NATO scrambles warplanes as brutal Putin terrorises Ukrainians for Christmas as missile and drone attacks on heating and power supplies plunge civilians into misery

NATO was forced to fly fighter jets onto its eastern flank on Christmas Day as Vladimir Putin unleashed ferocious missile and kamikaze drone attacks on targets across Ukraine.

Russian warplanes, missiles and drones attacked key civilian infrastructure, especially power plants and supply networks, freezing long-suffering Ukrainians during the festivities.

Moscow deployed its long-range strategic bombers, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 ‘Bear’ aircraft, from Olenya airfield in the Arctic.

Reports said Russian missiles had flown over Moldova – a sovereign state – and crossed into the territory of Romania, a NATO country, prompting the security bloc’s fighter jets to flee.

The operational headquarters of the Polish Armed Forces announced that the commander had “activated all available forces and resources at his disposal, the combat pairs on duty had been assembled and the ground-based air defense and radar reconnaissance systems had reached the highest state of readiness.”

Explosions were reported in multiple Ukrainian regions, with Putin attacking key civilian infrastructure, especially in the energy field, with much of the country experiencing low or sub-zero temperatures.

At least six people were injured in a rocket attack on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Ukraine’s air force said ballistic missiles attacked Kharkiv and Syniehubov said on the messaging app Telegram that there was “damage to civilian non-residential infrastructure.”

Ukraine’s tilt towards the West is especially evident during the holidays: many people now celebrate Christmas on December 24 and 25, instead of January 6 and 7, as in Russia.

Putin has apparently deliberately targeted the seasonal festivities, forcing Ukrainian citizens to spend Christmas morning huddled in subway stations and other shelters.

But Russia has generally intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector since spring 2024, damaging nearly half of its generation capacity and causing hours of power outages across the country.

Much of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, was left without heating due to Putin’s Christmas attacks.

Water supplies and electricity were also affected, as well as “many civil infrastructure facilities,” a local Telegram channel said.

The country’s largest private power company, DTEK, said its power stations were attacked during the strike, causing “severe damage” to electricity equipment.

“This year marks the thirteenth mass attack on the Ukrainian energy sector and the tenth mass attack on the company’s energy facilities,” DTEK said in Telegram.

Attacks with Iskander-M and Kh-101 missiles targeted Kiev, Kharkov and Dnipro.

According to reports, around twenty explosions hit Dnipro this morning. More than five hit Kremenchuk and there were up to 15 in Kharkov.

There were fears about power plants in Burshtyn and Kryvyi Rih, as well as gas storage facilities in Stryi, Lviv region.

Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said: “The enemy is once again attacking the energy industry en masse.

‘The transmission system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption and thus minimize the negative consequences for the electricity system.

‘As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will provide clarity about the damage caused.

‘Stay tuned for official notifications. As long as the danger persists: stay in shelters!’

The chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, Mykola Lukashuk, warned: “The Russian occupation forces are trying to plunge us into darkness and cold.”

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said his city was decorated with Christmas decorations for the first time since 2022.

“The previous year was extremely difficult for Kharkov and all of us,” he said.

‘The enemy terrorizes the city every day, but the spirit of Kharkov – our spirit – cannot be broken!

‘Together we overcome difficulties, heal the wounds of the city and try to normalize our lives in war conditions. I believe that next year there will be a just peace in Ukraine. And with it the recovery, in which each of us plays an important role.’

Ukrainian energy supplier Ukrenergo said today: ‘Due to a large-scale rocket attack, measures have been taken to limit consumption.

‘The schedule of power outages in your region can be found on the website and official pages of your regional energy company.’

After a Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Kazan on December 21, Putin had said: “Whoever tries to destroy something in our country, no matter how hard he tries, will face much greater destruction at home and will regret that he ever tried that. everything in our country.’

Rocket attacks on Kryvyi Rih on Christmas Eve killed one and injured 17.

Russia’s anti-Putin resistance movement ATESH said today: ‘The occupiers are trying to ban Ukrainians from celebrating Christmas

“Our officers in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories report that the occupiers have increased control over people celebrating Christmas on December 24 and 25 according to the New Julian calendar.

‘At the companies, employees pass on lists of such people to the FSB, because they consider them ‘potential saboteurs’.

“The occupiers consider the celebration of Christmas on these dates as an expression of Ukrainian identity and are trying to suppress all cultural traditions related to the Ukrainian Church and the Ukrainian people.

“However, attempts to eradicate Ukrainian culture are doomed to failure.”