NATO fighters are in turmoil as Putin launches a major attack, sending strategic bombers to target Ukraine’s sub-zero power plants
NATO fighter jets have been stationed in Poland and along the Alliance’s eastern flank, while Vladimir Putin used strategic bombers and modern fighter jets to unleash terror on Ukraine.
Russia launched a brutal attack on Ukraine this morning, targeting energy and military facilities to plunge civilians into darkness and misery ahead of the festive season.
A massive Russian attack had been expected, but there were no immediate reports of the deployment of the fearsome Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile as predicted, although that may yet come.
Instead, Ukraine was hit by Iskander, Kalibr, Kinzhal (or Dagger) missiles and Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones, launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers and MiG-31Ks.
Images showed rockets flying over the Kiev, Ternopil and Vinnytsia regions, while huge clouds of smoke were seen following attacks in the Odesa and Ternopil regions.
Major power outages hit the capital Kiev – and underground trains stopped running as people crowded into metro stations to escape the bombardment.
There were reports that an air base was hit, along with warehouses and a factory that produces drones and repairs helicopters.
Energy Minister German Galushchenko said: “The enemy continues its terror.
“Once again (the energy sector) is under massive attack throughout Ukraine.
After the strikes in Odessa on December 13, huge clouds of smoke could be seen
A fire breaks out after a residential building was hit by Russian attacks in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region
People take shelter in a metro station this morning during a Russian military attack
File image shows an F-35 fighter jet taking off from the US air base in Ramstein, Germany
‘Energy workers are taking all necessary measures to minimize negative consequences for the energy system.
‘As soon as the security situation allows, clarity will be provided about the damage caused.’
Ukraine’s national electricity operator Ukrenergo warned that half the country would be without power today – with temperatures of minus 5 degrees Celsius – as a result of Putin’s latest attack, ahead of the Christmas festivities.
Explosions stretched across Ukraine, from Ivano-Frankivsk in the west to Kharkov in the east.
The other affected regions included Kiev, Odesa, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Khmelnitsk, Lviv and Ternopil.
One target in the Ivano-Frankivsk region was the Burshtyn power plant.
In the Kharkiv region, four people were injured as a result of the attack on Mirny.
In the same region, an air base in Chuguev was reportedly attacked.
In Odesa, where port facilities were targeted, electric transport stopped after loud explosions and the water supply was cut off.
People take shelter in an underground parking garage of an apartment building in Lviv during a massive Russian missile attack across the country
Air raid sirens had been declared in all regions of Ukraine.
Russia had warned of a strong response to a Ukrainian attack this week with US-supplied ATACMS missiles on a military airbase in Taganrog.
“A response will follow,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
“The response will follow when and in the manner deemed appropriate. But it will certainly follow.”
In the wake of today’s massive attacks, Volodymyr Zelensky launched an implicit attack on Donald Trump and his proposed plans to limit arms sales to Ukraine.
Today, Ukraine shot down 81 of the 93 missiles unleashed by Russia, the Ukrainian president said, adding that 11 of them were downed by F-16 aircraft supplied by the West.
Footage showed the wreckage of a Kh-555 aircraft launched from the air near an apartment building in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region.
A worker looks up as they repair equipment at a thermal power plant damaged in a rocket attack, at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on December 5
“The Russians also used almost 200 drones in this attack. One of the biggest attacks on our energy sector,” he said.
“This is Putin’s ‘peaceful’ plan – to destroy everything,” he added on Telegram.
‘This is how he wants ‘negotiations’ – terrorizing millions of people.
‘And it is not limited in range or in the procurement of the necessary parts for the production of missiles.
‘Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in impunity. A strong response from the world is needed: a massive strike – a massive response. This is the only way to stop terror.
“If leaders are afraid to respond or get used to terror, Putin takes this as permission to continue.
“We need ‘patriots’ to shoot down these missiles and prove that terror will not reach its target.”
A family huddles together in an underground parking lot in Lviv, amid the massive Russian bombardment
“We need to strengthen sanctions against Russia because of the war to really influence Russian missile production.
“Putin’s chatter will not stop – we need a force that will lead to peace.
‘A force that will not fear its ability to stop evil.
“The world can stop this madness, and for this we must first of all stop the madness in Moscow, which has been issuing terror orders for more than twenty years.
‘We need strength. Ukraine is grateful to everyone who helps.”
In late November, Trump told Time: “I strongly disagree with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?’
Both the American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles have been used to hit Russian territory for the first time since last month.
In that time, Russia has halved its use of air-guided bombs against Ukraine, indicating a deterrent effect from the use of Western weapons.
According to Ukrainian sources, the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine today faced “the most massive attack during the full-scale war.”
Critical infrastructure facilities were damaged.