Ukrainian cities have been subjected to large-scale assaults on Christmas morning by Russian ballistic and cruise missiles.

Power Minister Herman Halushchenko said: “The enemy is as soon as once more launching a large assault on the power system.”

He confirmed that restrictions on electrical energy provide have been applied to handle the influence of the strikes. A number of explosions shook Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest metropolis.

Preliminary experiences from native officers indicated accidents.

The town of Dnipro was additionally reportedly focused whereas Ukraine‘s air drive has warned of “enemy strike drones” heading to Kyiv from the north-east.

Poland reportedly scrambled plane in response to the airstrikes, with Moscow believed to have used used its long-range strategic bombers, together with nuclear-capable Tu-95 ‘Bear’ plane.

In the meantime photos shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X confirmed firefighters battling a blaze within the Zhytomyr area, roughly 60 miles west of Kyiv, after air strikes there.

Mr Zelensky commented: “Each huge Russian strike requires time for preparation. It’s by no means a spontaneous determination. It’s a deliberate alternative – not solely of targets but in addition of timing and date.

“At present, Putin intentionally selected Christmas for an assault. What could possibly be extra inhumane? Over 70 missiles, together with ballistic ones, and greater than 100 assault drones. The targets are our power infrastructure. They proceed to combat for a blackout in Ukraine.

“In accordance with preliminary experiences, our defenders managed to shoot down greater than 50 missiles and a major variety of drones. Sadly, there have been hits. As of now, there are energy outages in a number of areas. Energy engineers are working to revive energy provide as quickly as attainable.

“I thank everybody who’s working for the nation, who’s on fight obligation, who’s defending our skies. We are going to restore the utmost. Russian evil is not going to break Ukraine and won’t spoil Christmas.”

Ukraine’s greatest personal power firm, DTEK, stated Russia struck considered one of their thermal energy crops Wednesday morning, making it the thirteenth assault on Ukraine’s energy grid this 12 months.

Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account: “Denying mild and heat to hundreds of thousands of peace-loving individuals as they have a good time Christmas is a wicked and evil act that should be answered.”

Ukrainian state power operator, Ukrenergo, utilized preemptive energy outages throughout the nation, on account of a “huge missile assault,” resulting in electrical energy going out in a number of districts of the capital, Kyiv.

At the least seven strikes focused Kharkiv sparking fires throughout town, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At the least three individuals had been injured, native authorities stated.

Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated: “Kharkiv is underneath huge missile fireplace. A collection of explosions rang out within the metropolis and there are nonetheless ballistic missiles flying within the path of town. Keep in protected locations.”

The assaults got here hours after a Russian ballistic missile struck a residential constructing yesterday within the Ukrainian metropolis of Kryvyi Rih with at the least one particular person was killed, in response to native authorities.

Governor Serhii Lysak stated at the least 11 different individuals had been injured and extra individuals could possibly be trapped beneath the rubble of the four-story residence block.

Social media footage confirmed one aspect of the constructing had nearly utterly collapsed.