British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly condemned a Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy grid that left one person dead and plunged parts of the country into darkness during the Christmas season.
The assault, which included more than 170 missiles and drones, is the latest escalation in what Starmer called “Putin’s bloody and brutal war machine.”
“I condemn this ongoing assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” Starmer said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the leadership of President Zelensky, in the face of further drone and missile attacks with no respite even at Christmas.”
The attack, which began early Wednesday morning, triggered air raid alarms across Ukraine at 5:30 am local time (0330 GMT).
Shortly afterward, reports emerged that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea, as well as ballistic missiles and over 100 attack drones targeting Ukraine’s energy system.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault as a deliberate attempt by Russia to exploit the holiday season for maximum harm.
“Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane?” Zelensky said. “The target is our energy system.”
This marks the 13th large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this year.
Zelensky noted that while Ukraine’s air force managed to intercept more than 50 missiles, some strikes hit their targets, causing blackouts in several regions.
The attack also had international ramifications, with one Russian missile reportedly passing through Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described the incident as “Christmas terror” and called on the international community to hold Russia accountable.
Ukraine’s DTEK energy company confirmed significant damage to thermal power plants, further straining the country’s energy supply during the harsh winter months.
“Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko said, urging Ukraine’s allies to bolster air defense systems.
The attack underscores the urgency of international support for Ukraine.
While Ukraine’s air defenses have improved significantly, officials stress the need for additional systems to counter the scale and frequency of Russian assaults.
As the war drags on into the winter months, Ukraine continues to rely on the resilience of its people and the solidarity of its allies to weather both literal and figurative storms.