Moscow, Dec 24: A large-scale Russian drone and missile assault on Ukraine has killed at least three people, including a young child, and caused widespread power outages across multiple regions, officials said. The attack, which began overnight and continued into daylight, targeted residential areas and critical energy infrastructure in at least 13 regions of the country.According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia launched over 650 drones and around 38 missiles, many of which were intercepted by air defence systems, but several strikes still hit homes, power grids and other key facilities. The barrage has plunged parts of western and northern Ukraine into emergency blackout conditions amid bitter temperatures.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, saying it reflects Moscow’s intent to continue the conflict even as peace negotiations are underway. Emergency services reported that the fatalities occurred in the Zhytomyr, Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi regions.
The assault also damaged energy infrastructure and caused disruptions in cities such as Rivne, Ternopil, Lviv, Sumy and Odesa. Officials said restoration of power and repair of affected facilities will begin as soon as security conditions allow.
The strike comes amid ongoing international diplomatic efforts to seek an end to the nearly four-year-long Russia-Ukraine conflict, but recent attacks have underscored persistent tensions and challenges to reaching a lasting settlement.