On December 23, 2025, Russia launched a massive pre-Christmas air assault against Ukraine, deploying 635 drones and 38 missiles across at least 13 regions. The strikes killed three people—including a four-year-old in Zhytomyr—and wounded several others near Kyiv, authorities said.
The assault targeted energy facilities, inflicting the hardest blow in western regions. Ukraine's grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported emergency power outages in multiple areas as fires broke out in Chernihiv, Lviv and Odesa. With temperatures dipping toward freezing, millions now face disrupted heating and lighting just days ahead of the holidays.
"This Russian strike sends an extremely clear signal about Russia's priorities," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X. "An attack ahead of Christmas, when people simply want to be with their families, at home, and safe."
Poland, a NATO member bordering western Ukraine, responded by deploying Polish and allied aircraft to secure its airspace after drones and missiles flew near the frontier. These defenses underscore growing regional tensions as Moscow steps up pressure on Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry claimed its forces captured Prylipka in the Kharkiv region and Andriivka in Dnipropetrovsk, and struck additional energy and military sites with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles. Analysts say these moves aim to weaken Ukrainian resolve and force concessions in a US-backed deal.
As Ukrainians grapple with shattered infrastructure, humanitarian groups warn of broader impacts: expanding blackouts could hinder heating, water supply and medical services, compounding the country's humanitarian needs.
Ukraine's energy ministry said, via Telegram, that such attacks highlight Moscow's strategy of targeting civilian lifelines—undermining not just power grids, but the resilience of communities across the nation.
With Christmas just around the corner, many Ukrainians are finding moments of solidarity: local volunteers are organizing candlelit carols in blacked-out towns, and tech communities are setting up microgrids to restore power in critical sites.
Amid the darkness, stories of courage are emerging. From the front lines of energy repair crews to grassroots tech hubs, young Ukrainians and international supporters are rallying to keep lights on—reminding the world that resilience can illuminate even the darkest of times.
Reference(s):
Russia's pre-Christmas strikes trigger power cuts across Ukraine
cgtn.com
