Newsletter 25/12/2024
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
Putin’s massive missile attack on Christmas “deliberate” act - Zelensky
“Every massive Russian strike requires time for preparation. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a deliberate choice – not only of targets but also of timing and date,” Zelensky wrote on Facebook.
"Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine," Zelensky stressed.
Russians attack thermal power plants, equipment seriously damaged
Russian army strikes in Prykarpattia, part of region without electricity
Ukraine downs 113 air targets as Russia attacks energy facilities in seven regions
In total, the Air Force detected and tracked 184 air targets:
two KN-23 ballistic missiles (launch area - Voronezh region);
10 S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles (Belgorod region);
12 Caliber cruise missiles (the Black Sea);
50 Kh-101/Kh-55cm cruise missiles (launched by Tu-95MS strategic bombers over Volgograd region and the Caspian Sea);
four Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles (launched by tactical aircraft over Belgorod region);
106 Shahed strike drones/decoys of various types (Bryansk, Millerovo, Orel, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk).
Air defense units, electronic warfare teams, and mobile fire groups were involved in repelling the barrage.
According to tentative reports, as of 12:00, a total of 113 air targets were confirmed to have been shot down:
55 Kh-101, Kh-55cm, Kalibr cruise missiles;
four Kh-59/Kh-69 guided air missiles;
54 Shahed strike UAVs/drone decoys of various types, while 52 veered off course.
Hospital evacuated in Dnipro after air attack
More than a hundred patients of a hospital are being evacuated in Dnipro, where problems with electricity and heat supply have arisen after a massive air attack by Russian troops.
“Unfortunately, we will have to evacuate one of the city's hospitals again, where more than a hundred patients are staying. They will be distributed to other medical institutions in Dnipro,” the statement reads.
Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov informed that as of 2:30 p.m. after the morning attack in Dnipro, there are still some problems with heat supply in the left-bank part of the city. Gas, water and electricity are being supplied.
Over 70 buildings damaged after massive Russian attack on Kharkiv/Photos
"While thermal and energy facilities were the primary targets of the Russian strikes, residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure also sustained damage. So far, our specialists have documented damage to 74 buildings, with 840 windows shattered," Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.
He added that inspections of the affected buildings are underway, and restoration efforts have already begun.
Drones attack defense plant in Russia's Tambov region/Video
The attack involved four drones, which struck the linear dispatching production station of LLC Transnefteprodukt in the village of Novonikolskoye. A boiler room caught fire as a result, but no casualties were reported, according to Astra.
Local sources indicated that JSC Michurinsk Plant Progress, a facility producing advanced aviation and missile control systems as well as civil electrical equipment and pipeline technology, also sustained damage. However, Astra stated it could not confirm or deny the attack on the plant.
Drone attack reported in Russia’s Ingushetia, Chechnya/Video
On Wednesday morning, a drone crashed in the Russian Republic of Ingushetia. A UAV attack was also reported in the Chechen capital of Grozny.
The head of Ingushetia, Mahmud-Ali Kalimatov, said this morning that a drone crashed in the city of Malgobek. According to the official, no casualties or damage were reported.
Ukrainian drones blow up ammo depot at one of Russia’s largest training grounds - source
“Long-range SBU drones staged a hellish kaboom at an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky training ground. The training ground, located near the village of Novocherkassk, Rostov region, is one of the largest ones in the Russian Federation. The video shows a powerful explosion after the Security Service drones hit the site, with the subsequent detonation of munitions. As a result of the strike, the enemy depot was completely destroyed,” the interlocutor said.
Kursk raid: Ukraine’s Army hits Russian army command post in Lgov
On the night of December 25, the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit the command post of Russia’s 810th Separate Marines Brigade located in an abandoned civilian building in Lgov, Kursk region.
Japan to provide Ukraine with $3B from frozen Russian assets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during which he thanked him for Japan's decision to transfer another $3 billion to Ukraine, secured by frozen Russian assets.
War
At least 184 Ukrainians die in Russian captivity since Feb 2022 - Coordination HQ
The Media Initiative for Human Rights reported this citing the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Ukrinform saw.
It is noted that the real number of prisoners who died in Russia is likely much higher. The organization collected testimonies from 122 Ukrainian soldiers released from Russian captivity. They refer to systematic torture, isolation, and lack of proper medical treatment.
"Many defenders remaining in Russian captivity have been there since the first months of the big war, that is, for more than 30 months. Russia does not allow monitoring missions, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross, to visit them, and neither does it inform Ukraine about their deteriorating health or deaths. All of this grossly violates the Geneva Conventions," the report says.
There are numerous reports of prisoners dying over mistreatment and torture in penitentiary facilities.
Among the 169 servicemen who died in captivity and whose bodies were repatriated to Ukraine, there are 55 who were killed by explosions at the Olenivka penal colony.
Air Force shows how it shot down Russian missile in morning/Video
Russia uses up all pre-war stocks of T-90 tanks, most of T-80s - media
Enemy suffers heavy losses in attempt to flank Pokrovsk defense – Ukrainian military
Politics
Government endorses strategy to develop border infrastructure with EU, Moldova until 2030
The above strategy refers to road and railway border crossings with EU Member States and the Republic of Moldova. In addition to the strategy, the Ukrainian government approved an operational action plan for its implementation.
In accordance with the document, 29 border crossings will be renovated and 17 new checkpoints will be built. The strategy also includes railway infrastructure modernization, namely the renovation of railway tracks, multimodal terminals, and electrification measures.
The main objectives of the strategy are as follows: increasing the capacity of border infrastructure; introducing joint border and customs control procedures with neighboring countries; digitalizing border crossing procedures; and creating a network of waiting areas.
The document provides for signing joint control agreements with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, and introducing the peak forecasting mechanisms for freight and passenger traffic.
Along with the strategy, the Ukrainian government endorsed an operational action plan for its implementation in 2024-2030. The plan consists of detailed measures for the development of border checkpoints and access roads, and contains deadlines for the completion of tasks and the amount of necessary funding.
Society
In Ukraine, on Wednesday, December 25, Christians of the Western and Eastern rites celebrate Christmas.
On Sofia Square in Kyiv, 'Nova Radist Stala' was performed jointly.
A Christmas procession with caroling stars passed through the central streets and squares of the capital. This tradition was founded in 2013 during the Revolution of Dignity. Its aim is to remind residents of ancient Ukrainian traditions and unite in the common joy and strength of the holiday.
