Ukraine has been hit by one of the largest coordinated Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure since the war began, leaving widespread destruction, power outages across multiple regions, and civilian casualties, including a four‑year‑old child.
Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, described the strikes as a “massive attack” that targeted power plants, substations, and distribution facilities. The company reported that more than 450 drones and 30 missiles were launched overnight into Monday, December 23, 2025, crippling electricity supplies in nine regions.
By Monday evening, crews had restored electricity to nearly 678,000 customers in Kyiv, but hundreds of thousands elsewhere remained without power. The strikes also disrupted water supplies and heating systems, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis as winter temperatures drop.
Authorities confirmed that at least three civilians were killed in the assault, among them a four‑year‑old child. Several others were injured, underscoring the human toll of Russia’s campaign against civilian infrastructure.
The United Nations has warned that repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid could trigger a “crisis within a crisis,” leaving millions vulnerable to freezing conditions. Humanitarian agencies say families in high‑rise buildings and frontline communities face the greatest risk, with heating and water systems already strained.
Military analysts argue that Russia is using energy infrastructure as a weapon of war, aiming to demoralize civilians and pressure Kyiv’s leadership. The strikes are part of a broader strategy to weaken Ukraine’s resilience during the harsh winter months.
International condemnation has been swift. Western governments denounced the attacks as violations of international humanitarian law, stressing that civilian infrastructure should never be targeted in armed conflict. Calls for increased air defense support to Ukraine have intensified in response.
The assault also highlights the vulnerability of modern energy grids in wartime. Ukraine’s system, already fragile after months of bombardment, faces the risk of long‑term collapse if strikes continue at this scale. Energy experts warn that rebuilding damaged facilities will take years and require significant international investment.
For Ukraine’s civilians, the consequences are immediate. Families are forced to endure blackouts, freezing homes, and disrupted access to clean water. The death of a child in the latest attack has become a symbol of the indiscriminate suffering inflicted by Russia’s campaign.
As the war grinds on, the December 23 strikes mark a grim escalation in Russia’s use of energy as a weapon. For Ukraine and its allies, the challenge is not only to defend against missiles and drones but to safeguard the basic systems that sustain life through the winter.
