(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Russia targeted Ukraine’s power grid and energy infrastructure this morning. All of these are civilian targets. All of these strikes are war crimes.
Over 70 missiles were launched by russia at Ukraine this Christmas morning.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Merry Christmas?
Russians launched over 70 missiles at Ukraine today, attacking Ukrainian energy sector. 50 destroyed.
🛑Kharkiv. 11 explosions in 30 sec
6 injured
🛑Vinnytsia region
🛑Poltava region
🛑Kriviy Ryh, yesterday missile attack, 1 killed, 17 injuredPower outages.
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 5:05 AM
⚡️Update: Russia launches over 70 missiles, more than 100 drones at Ukraine in mass attack.
Russia launched more than 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and over 100 drones in a mass aerial attack against Ukraine’s energy grid on Dec. 25, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 25, 2024 at 4:36 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russia launched a mass aerial attack against Ukraine on Dec. 25, targeting cities across the country with missiles and drones.
The northeastern city of Kharkiv was among the hardest hit, coming under “massive fire” from ballistic missiles, according to local authorities. At least six people were injured, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Explosions were also reported in Dnipro, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih, and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk.
Russia launched 78 missiles and 106 drones, the Air Force said. Ukraine shot down 55 Kh-101/Kh-55/Kalibr cruise missiles and four Kh-59/Kh-69 missiles, as well as 54 Shahed-type drones and other types of drones, according to the report. Another 52 drones were “lost.”
“Every Russian massive strike takes time to prepare. It is never a spontaneous decision. It is a conscious choice not only of targets but also of time and date,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Multiple cities in Ukraine imposed emergency blackouts following the attack.
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, reported that Russia had attacked its thermal power plants, “seriously damaging equipment.” The location of the facilities was not disclosed.
The Air Force reported that Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers had taken flight overnight, and later announced that a number of Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea.
Poland scrambled fighter jets in response to the Russian missile threat in western Ukraine, the Polish Operational Command reported.
A series of explosions were reported in Kharkiv after the Air Force warned of a ballistic missile threat against the city. At least seven missile strikes targeted the city, Syniehubov said. The attacks caused fires and damage to civilian infrastructure, he added.
Located only 30 kilometers from the Russian border, Kharkiv has suffered relentless aerial attacks over the past two years of the full-scale war.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Dec. 24 announced that the city had put up holiday decorations and lights for the first time since Russia’s February 2022 invasion. The decorations are “a symbol of (Kharkiv’s) resolve,” Terekhov said.
The Russian attack on energy infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed one person, Governor Serhii Lysak said.
Energy infrastructure was also targeted in Vinnytsia and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts, according to local authorities. In Kyiv Oblast, drone debris damaged a cafe, three houses and 12 trucks, Governor Ruslan Kravchenko said.
The mass attack follows a ballistic missile strike against Kryvyi Rih on Christmas Eve. The missile struck an apartment building in the city, killing one civilian and injuring 15 more.
More at the link.
More on these strikes after the jump.
The cost:
Don’t feel guilt for celebrating Christmas with your family. Feel gratitude. But don’t stay silent about those in Ukraine who can’t. Speak for the ones whose tables are empty, whose homes are gone, whose loved ones are missing.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 7:07 AM
In the photo is Ukrainian power engineer, Dmytro Petlenko. He was killed by the enemy on Christmas night during missile strikes on the thermal power plant.
Dmytro was 51. He dedicated over 30 years to his profession. In recent years, he fought for light.
Eternal memory to him.
t.me/c/1604466036…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 11:21 AM
President Zelenskyy did not deliver an address today. He did present apartment certificates to families of Ukrainian Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and/or Marines killed in action.
President and First Lady Visited a Large Foster Family
25 December 2024 – 15:29
On the occasion of Christmas, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska visited the large foster family of the Alekseienkos and presented them with the keys to their new home. The house was built as part of the second wave of the Olena Zelenska Foundation’s project, “Room for Childhood.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska toured the fully furnished and equipped house and talked with the family.
“We wish you happy holidays. May Christmas bring you many gifts you’ve been wishing for. We hope everything here will be good and warm for you,” said the First Lady.
The Alekseienko family thanked the Olena Zelenska Foundation and everyone involved in the project for the new home for their family, as such a house had been a dream for their children.
“You have given us hope and faith that even in the most difficult times, there are people willing to help,” they said.
The Alekseienko family, which includes ten foster children, lived in a 100-square-meter home near Kakhovka until 2022. However, due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and the occupation of their village, they were forced to leave their home and evacuate.
Last year, during the first wave of the project, 14 large foster families from 8 regions of Ukraine received new homes with the support of the Olena Zelenska Foundation. In the second wave, the Foundation plans to provide housing to 10 more families. The Alekseienko family was the first of the second wave to receive a new home on Christmas Eve.
The main goal of the “Room for Childhood” project is to support large foster families who lost their homes as a result of Russian aggression.
President Zelenskyy also lit Hanukkah candles with a group of Ukrainian rabbis today.
The President Lit Hanukkah Candles with Rabbis
25 December 2024 – 19:15
On the occasion of the beginning of the Hanukkah holiday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony together with the rabbis of Ukraine.
Chief Rabbi of Dnipro Shmuel Kaminetsky said a blessing and spoke about the meaning of Hanukkah, which symbolizes a great miracle.
“The battle between light and darkness continues. We see that thanks to you, the axis of evil is becoming much weaker, and we will soon defeat it. We will light these candles and hope that the Almighty will help us, and we will pray with everyone to see great miracles soon,” he said.
The Head of State congratulated the Jewish community on the holiday and thanked them for their prayers for Ukraine and Ukrainians.
“Thank you for being in Ukraine and supporting everyone. We have a unique country – today we celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. It is very good that in Ukraine we can all live together, fighting the darkness with the light that we have,” the President said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed out that the Hanukkah menorah lit today was presented to him by the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, during his inauguration last December, when it was the fourth of the eight days of Hanukkah 5784.
Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Council of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, noted that Hanukkah also reminds the world of the victory of a small number of people over a powerful enemy.
The ceremony was also attended by Chief Rabbi of Beit Menachem Chabad (Kyiv) Jonathan Markovitch, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Religious Community of the Central Synagogue of Kyiv Moshe Azman, Chief Rabbi of Simcha Chabad Left Bank (Kyiv) Mordechai Levenharts, Chief Rabbi of Lviv Mordechai Bald, Chief Rabbi of Mykolaiv Shalom Gottlieb, Chief Rabbi of Odesa Avraham Wolff, Chief Rabbi of Sumy Yechiel Levitansky, Chief Rabbi of Kharkiv Moshe Moskowitz, Chief Rabbi of Kherson Yossef Wolff, and Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine Rabbi Raphael Rutman.
Georgia:
1/ A Unity March was held in Tbilisi, featuring participation from Georgian citizens of Armenian, Azerbaijani, Kist, Kurdish, Jewish, and other ethnic backgrounds.
#GeorgiaProtests Day 28
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 1:45 PM
2/ At the end of the march, participants celebrated Hanukkah with the Jewish community in front of the Parliament.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 1:45 PM
3/ The Unity March, which started at First Republic Square and ended at the Parliament, was joined by a march of financiers, bankers, and accountants, which also began at Republic Square.
Text on the banner: “The freedom of Georgians is at “All Risks”.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 1:45 PM
Again, I cannot stress enough how big a deal it is for all of these ethnic minority communities coming together to protest the Georgian Dream, the oligarch that owns the Georgian Dream, and Russia’s attempt to take over Georgia through the Georgian Dream.
The President and the opposition are currently working on various aspects of holding the new, free and fair elections – after the regime either compromises or breaks, the two scenarios the President has outlined. #GeorgiaProtests #NewElectionsforGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Please note all the cars honking in solidarity with this solo protester. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 12:51 PM
Protests continue in Batumi – citizens gather here every day demanding new elections and the release of those detained during the protests.
#GeorgiaProtests Day 28
📷Roin Gundadze
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 12:30 PM
The Gulf of Finland:
Cook Island flag oil tanker Eagle S lost 25% of her speed minutes before she crossed the broken cable Estlink2. She crossed at 10:26Z, ie the time of cable fault.
She proceeded at affected speed til she reached shallow waters, where she lost all momentum. After some maneuvers she regained speed.
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 12:23 PM
Cables saboteur suspect EAGLE S stopped in international waters 4 hours ago.
2 hours ago she started proceeding slowly north and is now firmly in Finnish territory.
I find it probable she has been arrested by Finnish navy (usually less visible on AIS).
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Cook Island oil tanker EAGLE S is almost certainly arrested as a prime suspect in todays breakdown of 658 MW connector Estlink2
Finland Coast Guard patrol ship Turva just turned on AIS. The two vessels are stationary on Finnish territory. Turva was also very involved in Yi Peng 3-case a month ago
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 3:03 PM
If Estlink2 i destroyed it comes in very timely. Baltic states are in the final preparations to desynchronize from Russian grid and enter the western system.
energy.ec.europa.eu/news/estonia…
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 3:33 PM
bsky.app/profile/auon…
— auonsson (@auonsson.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 4:03 PM
Eagle S is also an old and very well known vessel from Russias shadow fleet. Its owners are virtually unknown. An independent inspection in Skaw a few months back showed more than 20 faults, some critical, yet it’s continued to transport Russian oil. It’s an interesting candidate for the sabotage.
— Jakob Kjøgx Bohr (@jakobbohr.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 4:06 PM
These ships are everywhere in Europe now. Strictly transporting Russian goods, while they officially have no known owners, no real operators, no known insurance – and in the end no one to blame. And according to several defense analysts, they’re the perfect weapon for hybrid warfare.
— Jakob Kjøgx Bohr (@jakobbohr.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 4:14 PM
Eventually someone might recognize that we’re in a world war.
Kazakhstan:
⚡️Azerbaijani Airlines plane en route to Russia crashes in western Kazakhstan.
A plane carrying 67 people from Baku, Azerbaijan to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Dec. 25, Tengrinews media outlet reported.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 25, 2024 at 4:13 AM
At least 28 people are believed to have survived, the Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry said. The number of casualties has not been reported.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 25, 2024 at 4:13 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
A plane carrying 67 people from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Dec. 25, Tengrinews media outlet reported.
According to Kazakhstan’s Transport Ministry, the plane operated by Azerbaijan Airlines had 37 Azerbaijani passengers, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz, along with five crew members on board.
At least 28 people are believed to have survived, the Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry said. The number of casualties has not been reported.
Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya) reported that, according to preliminary data, the plane collided with a flock of birds and the pilot decided to land at the Aktau airfield, after which the aircraft “hit the ground.”
Search and rescue operations at the site are ongoing.
Meduza is reporting that the plane was brought down by Russian air defense.
A passenger jet crashed en route to Russia’s North Caucasus region. Original reports said the cause was a bird strike, but mounting evidence suggests Russian air defenses shot it down by accident. Meduza investigates.
— Meduza in English (@meduza.io) December 25, 2024 at 2:18 PM
On December 25, 2024, a few hours after an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer passenger jet crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, an anonymous Russian blogger, who is connected to Russia’s Air Forces and goes by the username Fighterbomber, posted important video evidence of the crash site on his Telegram channel.
On December 25, 2024, a few hours after an Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer passenger jet crashed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, an anonymous Russian blogger, who is connected to Russia’s Air Forces and goes by the username Fighterbomber, posted important video evidence of the crash site on his Telegram channel.
So, it was a missile strike?
It’s certainly hard to interpret the video from the crash site any other way.
- The footage clearly shows evidence of a large anti-aircraft missile strike on the plane’s tail section.
- Ample photo and video evidence exists of the wreckage of other military and civilian aircraft shot down by anti-aircraft missiles. It tends to show similar holes in the skin of shot down planes.
- Some passengers who survived the crash also reported large fragments hitting the Embraer jet from the outside. Footage from inside the Embraer’s cabin soon also appeared online. It shows the cabin becoming depressurized, holes in the seats (possibly from shrapnel), and passengers asking if anyone has bandages to treat the wounded.
It is impossible to determine what type of ammunition may have struck the plane solely based on the shape of the holes it left. That requires finding remnants of whatever hit the plane.
It is also difficult to say with certainty who owned the weapons that struck the Embraer jet. What we do know for sure is that on the morning of December 25, Russian air defenses repelled an attack by Ukrainian drones in the Embraer’s landing zone.
More at the link including video and imagery, much of which is below thanks to the Special Kherson Cat.
❗️/1. Russian air defense most likely caused the crash of an Embraer 190 passenger plane during UAV attack on Chechnya:
An Embraer 190 passenger plane belonging to Azerbaijan Airlines crashed this morning. 67 passengers of which 5 crew members were on board. 32 people survived the crash. 🧵
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 11:26 AM
/3. Just as the plane was approaching Grozny, an air raid alert was issued in the region due to a kamikaze drone attack. And Russian air defense was actively engaged.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 11:28 AM
/4. The tail section of the plane survived the crash and witnesses were able to capture on videos damage on the tail that is typical of fragments from air defense missiles.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 11:30 AM
/5. Some passengers have already managed to give short testimonies and comment on what happened. Thus, Zaur Mamedov, one of the survivors of the plane crash, says:
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 11:31 AM
Kherson:
Interception of one of the Russian cruise missiles over the Kherson region. During the Christmas night’s massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine. t.me/kpszsu/25655
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 1:57 PM
Pokrovsk:
Photo of “Christmas” Pokrovsk, from which the Russians is now only 6 km away. There are almost no people, FPV drones are flying, and explosions are echoing.
t.me/c/1154166453…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 11:32 AM
Kharkiv:
Imagine Christmas morning: your loved ones hiding from drones, missiles raining down, silence after every explosion a gamble between hope and grief. This is Ukraine. This is Kharkiv. This is my family. This is the life I hate. And the blood-soaked name behind it is russia.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 3:43 AM
Russian missile attack on Kharkiv this morning ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 7:59 AM
This was someone’s home on Kharkiv. Russia destroyed it this Christmas morning.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 6:40 AM
The moment of the Russian Christmas night attack on Kharkiv.
The Russians fired at least 12 missiles at the city.
— Kyiv Post (@kyivpost.com) December 25, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Russia struck Kharkiv with 12 missiles, damaging both heating and energy infrastructure. This Christmas, much of the city is without heat, the mayor reported. No glowing tree, no warmth, no light — just war.
📹by art.malon— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 4:15 AM
Footage of a successful clearing operation in a forest strip and the capture of an entire enemy group in Kharkiv region. The positions of the Russians were hit by tank crews of the brigade, and the infantry finished the job.
t.me/+cWWdmTRjmyk…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 9:03 AM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
⚡️Ukraine hits Russian naval infantry brigade command post in Kursk Oblast, military claims.
Ukrainian troops hit the command post of the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade in the town of Lgov in Russia’s Kursk Oblast overnight on Dec. 25, Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications reported.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 25, 2024 at 6:30 AM
The Russian command post was located in an abandoned civilian building, the military claimed.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 25, 2024 at 6:30 AM
A HIMARS missile strike hit Lgov in Russia’s Kursk region hours ago, with Russian sources alleging a civilian facility was struck. Ukrainian sources claim it targeted the 810th Marine Brigade’s command post, causing major Russian officer losses.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 5:20 AM
Here are the details from The Kyiv Independent:
Ukrainian troops hit the command post of the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade in the town of Lgov in Russia’s Kursk Oblast overnight on Dec. 25, Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications reported.
The Russian command post was located in an abandoned civilian building, the military claimed.
“This fire strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the ability of the Russian Armed Forces to coordinate military operations against the people of Ukraine,” the statement read.
According to Kursk Oblast acting governor, Alexander Khinshtein, Ukraine attacked civilian facilities and infrastructure in Lgov, killing four people and injuring five others.
Russian Telegram channels shared videos purporting to show a damaged high-rise building and cars.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
More at the link.
Rostov Oblast, Russia:
💥SBU drones destroyed an ammunition depot at the Kadamovskoye training ground in Russia’s Rostov region, a key supply point for troops in the Kramatorsk sector. The depot’s destruction has caused severe logistical challenges for Russian forces, impacting their combat operations.
t.me/c/1194762769…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 25, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Ukrainian long-range drones attacked an ammunition depot at the Kadamovsky military training ground in Russia’s Rostov Oblast in recent days, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent on Dec. 25.
The Kadamovsky training ground, located near the town of Novocherkassk in Rostov Oblast, is one of the largest in Russia. According to the source, the ammunition depot was completely destroyed by drones operated by the SBU.
“It was used by the enemy to supply its troops in the Kramatorsk sector (in Donetsk Oblast),” the source said.
“Now the Russians have significant logistical difficulties, which significantly affect their ability to conduct combat operations.”
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
This is the latest of several other attacks on Rostov Oblast reported over the past week.
More at the link.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron.
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok:
@patron__dsns Христос народився!✨ Сподіваюся, ви проводите це Різдво з тими, кого любите. А якщо ні — то нехай наступного року все буде саме так. Я написав пісню про любов, дружбу і…вареники. Щоправда, останнє довелося вирізати, але в цілому пісня вийшла гарна, різдвяна. Співаємо її разом із Томом нашими голосами з мультфільму. Заходьте на YouTube — подивіться!💫🤲🏻
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
Christ was born! ✨ I hope you spend this Christmas with the ones you love. And if not, then let everything be just like that next year. I wrote a song about love, friendship and…dumplings True, the last one had to be cut, but in general the song turned out to be good, Christmas. We sing it with Tom in our cartoon voices. Go to YouTube – watch it!💫🤲🏻
And here’s the full video from Patron’s YouTube channel:
Happy Hannukah to those who observe and celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Open thread!
bjacques
Happy Hanukkah and thanks, Adam.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Best to you and yours…
Gin & Tonic
The paper sign on the empty camo jacket in the first frame of the video in the Voichuk post up top reads (roughly) “disappeared without a trace.”
Yutsano
Chag Samayach Adam!
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
At least, Ukraine is looking for their missing,
ruZZia looks at every missing of theirs as one less need to pay
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Osinttechnical/status/1872022536969503159#m
Raflw
Aviation blogger John Ostrower just posted pics on Bsky of what appears to be shrapnel type damage on that Azerbaijani aircraft. In his opinion it looked similar to the MH17 damage pattern.
KatKapCC
Chag Urim Sameach, Adam, and to all of our fellow Members Of the Tribe in Ukraine.
Gloria DryGarden
Happy Hanukkah
The power engineer, dmytry, has got the kindest eyes. He looks like he would be an amazing friend.
putin needs to spend some time without power and without heat, to get a taste of what he’s dished out.
way2blue
Warm greetings to you, Adam, on this first day of Hanukkah.