![\"Reuters](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/dab3\/live\/29136980-c2b2-11ef-aa0b-c3ca27753e0a.jpg.webp\")
Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia made a “conscious choice” by launching a major attack on his country’s energy infrastructure on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n Ukraine’s air force said it had detected 184 missiles and drones, but many were shot down or missed their targets.<\/p>\n It said there were casualties from the strikes but gave no figures.<\/p>\n Moscow confirmed the attack and said its goal had been achieved.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The attack led to power cuts across the country, including in the capital Kyiv, where some residents sheltered in metro stations.<\/p>\n Russia’s defence confirmed its forces had carried out a “massive strike” on “critical” energy facilities in Ukraine.<\/p>\n It added that the strike had been a success and all targets were hit.<\/p>\n This was the 13th major attack on Ukraine’s energy sector this year, the country’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said.<\/p>\n In September, President Zelensky said 80% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had been destroyed by Russian bombs.<\/p>\n Responding to Wednesday’s attacks, Zelensky said the timing of the attacks had been a “conscious choice”.<\/p>\n He called them “inhumane” and said work was being done to restore power as soon as possible.<\/p>\n “Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas”, he added.<\/p>\n This is the second time Ukraine has celebrated Christmas Day on 25 December. It traditionally followed the Julian calendar, like Russia, where Christmas falls on 7 January.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the north-eastern city of Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second largest – the attack left half a million people without water, electricity or heating in bitterly cold temperatures, the regional governor said.<\/p>\n Ukrainians across the country woke to sound of air raid alarms, and were told to shelter as the attacks unfolded in the morning.<\/p>\n Kyiv residents sheltered in metro stations, with one local telling Reuters news agency that she felt angry and frightened.<\/p>\n “Of course, I want to be at home and celebrate, but we had to shelter because it’s scary to stay at home,” Sofiia Lytvynenko said.<\/p>\n Another Kyiv resident, Oleksandra, said that despite the attack, “Christmas is not cancelled”.<\/p>\n She told Reuters that she planned to enjoy traditional Ukrainian food and drink with family and friends after it is safe to leave the shelter.<\/p>\n Ukraine’s state-owned power company, Ukrenergo, warned Ukrainians that power cuts could last until at least the end of the day.<\/p>\n It has imposed usage restrictions while it tries to restore service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the strikes as “Christmas terror”.<\/p>\n He said a Russian missile went through Moldovan and Romanian airspace “reminding that Russia threatens not only Ukraine”.<\/p>\n Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the strike and confirmed that a missile was detected in the country’s airspace.<\/p>\n Romania said it did not detect a missile in its airspace.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, four people were killed and five others injured by Ukrainian shelling in Russia’s Kursk region, according to the region’s acting governor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Reuters](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/cfc0\/live\/72352df0-c2bd-11ef-b11f-3d7d4a73632f.jpg.webp\")
Reuters<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n