Starmer condemns Russia’s Christmas Day strikes on Ukraine power grid

Russia’s “bloody and brutal war machine” has shown no respite “even at Christmas”, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said, as he condemned strikes against Ukraine’s energy grid.

Russia launched aerial attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector “on a massive scale” overnight into Wednesday, local authorities said.

Explosions were reported across the country amid intensified bombardments that have left Ukraine in a precarious position while the war grinds into a third winter.

At least three people were injured in the northeastern city of Kharkiv – less than 20 miles from the Russian border – Ukraine’s national police said, adding that residential buildings and civilian infrastructure were damaged in the attack.

At least seven missile strikes targeted the city, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Sir Keir condemned what he called an “ongoing assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure”.

He added: “I pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the leadership of President Zelensky, in the face of further drone and missile attacks from (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s bloody and brutal war machine, with no respite, even at Christmas.”

He added: “As we go into the New Year, it remains vital that we redouble our resolve to place Ukraine in the strongest possible position to end Russia’s illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people.”

Wednesday’s attack follows a deadly Russian strike on the city of Kryvyi Rih on Christmas Eve.

At least one person was killed and 17 others were injured after a Russian missile struck a residential building in the city – the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

And last Friday, at least one person was killed and several embassies were damaged in a Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

The attacks have prompted Zelenskyy to call the Russian leader a “dumbass”, adding: “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.

“Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than 100 strike drones. The targets are our energy sector. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.

“Thank you to everyone who is currently working for the country, who is on combat duty, who is protecting our sky. Let’s restore the maximum. Russian evil will not break Ukraine and will not distort Christmas.”