Russia unleashed a major overnight assault on Ukraine, firing more than 650 drones and dozens of missiles in a sweeping attack that stretched into daylight hours Tuesday, killing at least three civilians — including a four-year-old child — and knocking out power across large parts of the country just days before Christmas.
Ukrainian officials said the barrage struck residential areas and energy infrastructure in 13 regions, plunging communities into darkness amid freezing winter temperatures. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the strikes as a stark signal that Moscow intends to continue its invasion despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“This is an extremely clear signal of Russian priorities,” Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. He condemned the timing of the attack, saying it targeted civilians at a moment when families should be safe at home and came amid negotiations aimed at stopping the bloodshed.
Ukrainian emergency services reported that the child was killed in the northwestern Zhytomyr region. A woman was killed in the Kyiv region after being struck by a drone, while another civilian died in the western Khmelnytskyi region, according to Zelenskyy.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 635 drones of various types and 38 missiles. Air defence systems intercepted 587 drones and 34 missiles, but debris and direct hits still caused significant damage on the ground.
The strike marked the ninth large-scale attack on Ukraine’s energy system this year, acting Energy Minister Artem Nekraso said. Multiple western regions were left without electricity, and emergency power outages were imposed nationwide. Repairs will begin once security conditions allow, he added.
Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, said the attack targeted its thermal power plants, calling it the seventh major strike on its facilities since October. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, DTEK said its thermal plants have been hit more than 220 times, killing four workers and injuring 59 others.
Regional authorities reported damage to power infrastructure in Rivne, Ternopil, Lviv and the northern Sumy region. In the southern Odesa region, strikes damaged energy facilities as well as port, transport, industrial and residential infrastructure, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper. He said a merchant ship and more than 120 homes were affected.
The attack came as U.S.-led efforts to broker a peace deal continue, with President Donald Trump pressing both sides to reach an agreement. Ukrainian and European officials have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of failing to engage sincerely in negotiations, a charge Zelenskyy repeated following the bombardment.
“Putin cannot accept the fact that we must stop killing,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the pre-Christmas strikes showed Russia’s unwillingness to de-escalate even as talks continue.
