UKRAINE, Dec. 23 — On Dec. 23, Russia launched the ninth, since the beginning of 2025, massive attack on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, leaving Khmelnytskyi, Rivne and Ternopil regions completely without electricity, said Artem Nekrasov, acting minister of energy. 

Russia attacked Ukraine with 635 kamikaze drones and 38 missiles. The Ukrainian military shot down 621 of them, reported the General Staff of Ukraine. 

Hourly power outages are in effect throughout the country. Currently, the Ukrainian repair brigades are addressing the consequences of the Russian attack, said Yulia Svyrydenko, prime minister. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russian troops attacked at least 13 Ukrainian regions this night. He added that Russian drones and missiles killed a woman in the Kyiv region, a person in the Khmelnytskyi region, and a 14-year-old girl in the Zhytomyr region. 

“This Russian strike sends a very clear signal about Russia’s priorities. A strike before Christmas, when people want to be with their families, at home, safe. A strike amid negotiations to end this war,” Zelenskyy said. 

Read more 

  • Ukrainian forces conduct “limited cross-border attack” in Belgorod oblast, ISW reports

Hi! Winter has come, and Russian airstrikes on power infrastructure disrupt our daily lives & work a lot here in Kharkiv. Despite it all, we keep working to bring you reports from the city and the Kharkiv region. Please consider supporting our newsroom with a one-time tip or become a member of our community.