Kyiv/Moscow: On the night of December 23, 2025, Russia launched one of the most intense aerial assaults of the nearly four-year-old war, firing over 650 drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. The attack resulted in at least three deaths, including a four-year-old child, and triggered emergency power outages across multiple regions.
Casualties and Damage
The strikes primarily targeted energy facilities in the western and central parts of the country, disrupting the “infrastructure of daily life” just as Ukrainians prepared for Christmas celebrations.
- Casualties: A four-year-old child was killed when a drone struck a residential building in the Zhytomyr region. Other fatalities included a woman in the Kyiv region and one person in Khmelnytskyi.
- Power Grid: Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that western energy facilities suffered the most significant damage. Emergency blackouts were implemented nationwide to stabilize the grid.
- Regional Impact: Explosions were reported in Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Odesa. In Odesa, port infrastructure was previously hit by a missile strike on Saturday, December 20, resulting in eight deaths and 27 injuries.
War Priorities vs. Peace Talks
The timing of the assault has drawn sharp condemnation from Ukrainian officials, as it occurred amidst intensified diplomatic efforts in Florida.
- The “Miami Talks”: Representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, Europe, and Russia (including Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff) have been meeting in Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed peace plan.
- Zelenskyy’s Response: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the strikes sent a “clear signal” about Russia’s priorities, accusing Vladimir Putin of being unable to accept the need to stop the killing even during active negotiations.
Putin Claims “Strategic Initiative”
In his year-end press conference in Moscow on December 19, President Vladimir Putin maintained a defiant stance, asserting that Russian forces are advancing “all across the line of contact.”
- Military Progress: Putin claimed Russian troops have taken control of settlements like Andriivka and Prylipka, stating the “enemy is retreating in all sectors.”
- Peace Conditions: He reaffirmed that Russia is open to a peaceful settlement but only if its original conditions from June 2024 are met, which include Ukraine ceding four major regions and abandoning its NATO bid.
- Warning to the West: Putin cautioned that if Ukraine and its allies reject Russia’s terms, Moscow will continue to expand its territorial gains.