Russia unleashed missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities in what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called an “inhuman” Christmas Day assault, with US President Joe Biden condemning the attack as “outrageous” while pledging increased military aid to Kyiv.
US President Joe Biden denounced the “outrageous” attack and said he had asked the US Defense Department to push forward with a new surge of military aid to Kyiv.
“Today, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhuman? More than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than a hundred attack drones,” he said.
Biden said the purpose of the attack was “to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid”.
Washington has committed $175 billion in aid for Ukraine. It is not certain the flow will continue at that pace under Trump, who has said he wants to bring the war to a quick end.
In Moldova, Ukraine’s western neighbour, pro-European President Maia Sandu said one Russian missile crossed through her country’s airspace during the air assault.
“While our countries are celebrating Christmas, the Kremlin has chosen the path of destruction, launching strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and violating Moldova’s airspace,” Sandu wrote on social media.
Moldova has seen several cases of drone fragments landing on its territory and missiles passing through its airspace.
Ukrainians were marking their second Christmas on Wednesday, according to a new calendar in another step towards erasing Russian influence.
