In100 free spins no deposit this image provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian missile attack on the country's energy system in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. Photo: AP In this image provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian missile attack on the country's energy system in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. Photo: AP Russia launched a devastating wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Christmas morningapex gaming88, striking key power plants and causing widespread disruptions as Ukrainian citizens sought shelter in metro stations and other safe spaces.
As Ukrainian citizens began their Christmas morning, many sought refuge from the explosions in metro stations and underground shelters, as air raid sirens blared across the capital and other major cities.
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In a statement on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, revealing that more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 drones were fired at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
He described the timing of the assault as “deliberately inhumane,” accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of choosing Christmas to intensify the war. “What could be more inhumane?” Zelenskyy wrote. “They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”
The barrage caused significant damage, including a strike on a thermal power plant operated by Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, marking the 13th such attack on the nation’s power grid this year. Maxim Timchenko, the CEO of DTEK, called the attack "a depraved and evil act" that denied millions of Ukrainians light and warmth during their Christmas celebrations.
The attack came on the heels of a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Kryvyi Rih, which claimed the life of at least one person and injured 11 others. Ukrainian authorities fear that more people could be trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed four-story apartment block. The strike, which occurred on Tuesday, was part of a broader Russian missile campaign targeting civilian areas across Ukraine.
Local authorities in Kharkiv, one of the hardest-hit cities in the east, reported at least seven missile strikes, sparking fires across the city. At least three people were injured, and regional head Oleh Syniehubov confirmed the destruction of multiple buildings. "Kharkiv is under massive missile fire. A series of explosions rang out in the city, and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city," Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said, urging residents to stay in safe locations.
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Ukrainian officials were quick to respond, with the country’s Air Force reporting that it had shot down at least 50 of the missiles and a significant number of the drones. Despite these efforts, Ukrainian energy officials confirmed widespread blackouts. The state energy operator, Ukrenergo, enacted preemptive power outages across Ukraine, including in the capital, Kyiv, to mitigate the damage. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said the energy system was being closely monitored and that the damage would be assessed as soon as security conditions allowed.
The timing of the strike holds particular significance this year, as Ukraine officially adopted December 25 as its Christmas holiday for the first time. This change, signed into law by President Zelenskyy in July 2023, was part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to assert its national identity and distance itself from Russian influence, which traditionally celebrates Christmas on January 7.
The first match of the final round of group matches took place between Korea and Malaysia and resulted in a 3-3 draw. The splitting of points confirmed Korea's qualification to the semifinal. The draw also ensured that Pakistan would finish second in the group regardless of their result in their last group match against India.
The India-Pakistan hockey rivalry has lost its sheen in recent times. Hockey in Pakistan has been in a freefall for the last decade or so while Indians have made a tremendous comeback in the same time period. The two countries used to rule world hockey at one point and the seeds for it were sown during the British rule in India.
“While the rest of the world celebrates Christmasapex gaming88, Ukrainians continue to suffer from endless Russian attacks,” Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, wrote in a social media post. He added that the strikes represented Russia’s attempt to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people during what should have been a moment of respite.
