Biden Condemns Russia’s ‘Outrageous’ Christmas Attack on Ukraine

United States President Joe Biden has denounced Russia’s massive Christmas Day assault on Ukraine’s power grid, calling it an “outrageous” act of aggression and vowing to send more weapons to help Ukraine defend itself.

In a coordinated attack, Moscow launched over 170 missiles and drones on Wednesday, targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The strikes, which killed an energy worker and struck a thermal power plant, left Ukrainians seeking refuge in metro stations during Christmas morning.

“The United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in its defence against Russian forces,” Biden said in a statement, adding that the attack was a deliberate attempt to deny Ukrainians access to heat and electricity during the winter.

Relentless Strikes on Energy

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia deployed 78 air, ground, and sea-launched missiles, along with 106 Shahed drones and other unmanned aircraft.

Ukrainian forces claimed to have intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones, while jamming another 52 drones. Despite these efforts, critical parts of the energy grid were damaged.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to strike on Christmas Day, calling it “inhumane.”

“The target is our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

U.S. Response and Support

Biden pledged a “surge” in arms shipments to Ukraine in response to the attack, although specific details about the deliveries were not disclosed.

The U.S. has been one of Ukraine’s key allies, providing military aid to counter Russia’s invasion, which has now stretched beyond 1,000 days.

The latest assault underscores the continued volatility of the conflict and Russia’s efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s critical infrastructure as winter deepens.