NATO fighter jets have been scrambled in Poland and along the Alliance’s eastern flank as Vladimir Putin used strategic bombers and modern warplanes to unleash terror on Ukraine.
Russia staged a brutal attack on Ukraine this morning, targeting energy and military facilities to plunge civilians into darkness and misery ahead of the festive season.
A massive Russian onslaught had been expected, but there were no immediate reports of fearsome medium range ballistic missile Oreshnik being deployed, as had been predicted, although it may yet come.
Instead, Ukraine was hit with Iskander, Kalibr, Kinzhal [or Dagger] missiles and Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones, launched from Tu-95MS strategic bombers and MiG-31Ks.
Footage showed missiles flying over Kyiv, Ternopil and Vinnytsia regions, while huge clouds of smoke were seen after strikes in Odesa and Ternopil regions.
The capital Kyiv was hit by major power cuts – and underground trains stopped running, while people huddled in metro stations to escape the bombardment.
There were reports of an airbase being hit, along with warehouses and a plant producing drones and repairing helicopters.
Energy minister German Galushchenko said: ‘The enemy continues its terror.
‘Once again, [the power sector][ throughout Ukraine is under massive attack.
‘Energy workers are taking all necessary measures to minimise the negative consequences for the power system.
‘As soon as the safety situation allows, the damage caused will be clarified.’
Ukraine’s national power operator Ukrenergo warned that today half the country would be without power – with temperatures of minus 5C – due to the latest Putin onslaught, ahead the the Christmas festivities.
Explosions ranged across Ukraine from Ivano-Frankivsk in the west to Kharkiv in the east.
Among the other regions hit were Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Khmelnitsk, Lviv, and Ternopil.
A target in Ivano-Frankivsk region was the Burshtyn Power Plant .
In Kharkiv region, four people were injured due to the attack on Mirny.
In the same region, an airbase was reportedly targeted in Chuguev.
In Odesa, where port facilities were targeted, electric transport stopped working following loud explosions, and the water supply was cut off.
Air raid alarms had been announced across all regions of Ukraine.
Russia had warned of a powerful response to a Ukrainian strike this week with US-supplied ATACMS missiles on a military airbase in Taganrog.
‘A response will follow,’ said Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday.
‘The response will follow when and in the way that is deemed appropriate. But it will definitely follow.’
In the wake of today’s massive attacks, Volodymyr Zelensky made an implied attack on Donald Trump and his proposed plans to limit arms sales to Ukraine.
Today Ukraine shot down 81 of 93 missiles unleashed by Russia, the Ukrainian president said, adding that eleven of these were downed by F-16 planes, provided by the West.
Footage showed the wreckage of a Kh-555 air launched cruise missile close to an apartment block in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region.
‘The Russians also used almost 200 drones in this attack. One of the largest strikes on our energy sector,’ he said.
‘This is Putin’s ‘peaceful’ plan – to destroy everything,’ he added on Telegram.
‘This is how he wants ‘negotiations’ – terrorising millions of people.
‘And he is not limited either in range or in purchasing the necessary components for the production of missiles.
‘Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in impunity. A strong reaction from the world is needed: a massive strike – a massive reaction. This is the only way to stop terror.
‘If leaders are afraid to react or get used to terror, Putin takes this as permission to continue.
‘We need ‘Patriots’ to shoot down these missiles and prove that terror will not achieve its goal.
‘We need to strengthen sanctions against Russia for the war in order to really influence Russian missile production.
‘Putin’s chatter will not stop – we need a force that will lead to peace.
‘A force that will not be afraid of its ability to stop evil.
‘The world can stop this madness, and for this, first of all, we need to stop the madness in Moscow, which has been giving orders for terror for 20-plus years.
‘We need force. Ukraine is grateful to everyone who helps.’
In late November, Trump told Time: ‘I disagree very vehemently with sending missiles hundreds of miles into Russia. Why are we doing that?’
Both US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles have been used to hit Russian territory for the first time since last month.
In that time, Russia has halved its use of aerial guided bombs against Ukraine, indicating a deterrent impact from using the Western weapons.
Ivano-Frankivsk region in Ukraine today faced ‘the most massive attack during the full-scale war’, according to Ukrainian sources.
Critical infrastructure facilities were damaged.