Zelensky had warned of Christmas attackspublished at 08:12 GMT
08:12 GMT
Image source, Leszek Szymanski/EPA/Shutterstock
The latest Russian attacks come after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claimed it was Russia’s “nature” to “carry out massive attacks” over Christmas – occurring “especially on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th”.
The Ukrainian president said Russia “deliberately underscore” calls for a Christmas ceasefire from international players, such as Germany and the US.
As a result, said Zelensky, he has been working on “defining new and logical approaches” to defending Ukraine during holidays and special dates.
On Christmas Day last year, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – a move Zelensky described as “a conscious choice”.
Ukraine traditionally used the Julian calendar, also used by Russia, where Christmas falls on 7 January. But starting in 2023, it began celebrating Christmas on 25 December.