Russia launched 131 drones and missiles against Ukraine on 24–25 December, targeting Odesa, Cherkasy, and Kharkiv. In Odesa, a drone strike killed one person and injured two; in Cherkasy, a missile injured one and damaged a cemetery. In Kharkiv, drones struck a residential building and caused a fire as the city continued operating in “energy island” mode due to earlier attacks, according to local officials.
As Russia’s full-scale invasion continues since 2022, Moscow launches daily drone attacks against Ukrainian cities, deliberately targeting civilians and energy infrastructure to break Ukraine’s will to resist. Temperatures across Ukraine have now dropped well below –10°C. At the same time, the US administration under President Donald Trump repeatedly claims Russia seeks peace and continues pressuring Ukraine toward a deal, despite Moscow’s repeated demands for Ukraine’s de facto capitulation. Russia strikes Odesa with drones on Christmas nightRussian forces attacked Odesa Oblast with strike drones overnight on 25 December, killing one person and wounding two others. The head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, said the drones targeted the oblast’s port and industrial infrastructure. The strike damaged administrative, warehouse, and production buildings. Fires broke out at several sites and were extinguished by rescue services.
Kiper confirmed that emergency workers recovered the body of one victim from under rubble. The two injured people are receiving medical care. He added that emergency crews are working at the sites and recording evidence of Russian war crimes.
As a result of the drone attack, authorities introduced emergency power shutdowns in Odesa. Serhii Lysak, head of the city’s Military Administration, said the outages are needed to avoid overloading damaged equipment. Energy company DTEK continues local repair and restoration efforts.
Russian missile strike hits Cherkasy on Christmas EveOn the evening of 24 December, Russian forces launched a missile strike on Cherkasy. The head of the Cherkasy Oblast Military Administration, Ihor Taburets, said the missile was intercepted in Cherkasy district, but the blast still injured one person. He noted the victim’s injury was not severe.
Taburets reported that the shockwave damaged an educational institution, a garage cooperative, and the local cemetery. Cherkasy mayor Anatolii Bondarenko said gravestones of local residents and the Alley of Heroes were damaged.
Drone hits high-rise in Kharkiv“This is their style—war against monuments and souls who died long ago,” he said in a video, showing the site.
On 24 December evening, Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with a drone of the Molniya type. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed the strike on a high-rise building in the Slobidskyi district. The blast damaged cars and shattered windows in the building. No injuries were reported.
Later the same day, another drone hit the Shevchenkivskyi district. Terekhov said a fire broke out at the site. He did not provide further details.
Earlier on 24 December, Russian forces launched strikes on a combined heat and power plant (CHPP) in a suburb of Kharkiv. The attack caused a significant drop in the city's power grid. Because of the damage, Kharkiv is operating in “energy island” mode to reduce the impact on residents, according to RBK-Ukraine.
Air Force says it downed 106/131 dronesUkraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 131 long-range strike drones from Kursk, Oryol, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from occupied Donetsk and Crimea's Hvardiiske and Chauda. About 90 of the drones were Shahed-type, most others were the Gerberas.
Air defense units, aircraft, mobile fire teams, electronic warfare systems, and UAV units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces took part in repelling the attack. According to the Air Force, as of 8:30 a.m. on 25 December, Ukrainian defenses downed or suppressed 106 drones across the north, south, and east of the country.
Despite the efforts, 22 drones struck targets in 15 locations, the Air Force said.
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