By Gloria Ogbonna
Russian drones struck apartment buildings and critical energy infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa during an overnight attack, injuring at least six civilians, including a toddler and two other children, Ukrainian officials said Wednesday.
The assault caused widespread damage and renewed fears over the safety of civilians as winter deepens and diplomatic efforts to end the war continue.
According to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa regional military administration, four apartment buildings were damaged in the bombardment. Residents were jolted awake by explosions as drones slammed into residential areas, shattering windows and damaging homes. Emergency crews were dispatched to the affected neighborhoods to assist the injured and assess structural damage.
Ukraine’s major private energy company, DTEK, confirmed that two of its energy facilities in the region sustained significant damage in the attack. The company added that the strain on the power grid has been mounting for months, noting that 10 electricity distribution substations in the Odesa region alone were damaged in December.
The latest strikes further threaten electricity supplies at a time when freezing temperatures make power and heating critical for survival.
Russia has steadily escalated its long-range drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities throughout the year, increasingly targeting densely populated urban areas.
As Moscow’s full-scale invasion approaches its four-year mark in February, attacks on energy infrastructure have intensified, appearing aimed at depriving Ukrainians of heat, electricity, and running water during the harsh winter months.
The human toll of the war continues to rise. The United Nations reported earlier this month that from January to November this year, more than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and over 11,000 injured.
That figure represents a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a staggering 70% increase compared to 2023, underscoring the growing impact of the conflict on noncombatants.
These sustained drone and missile assaults are unfolding against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the fighting. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort on Sunday, later announcing that a negotiated settlement to the war is “closer than ever before.” Zelenskyy is also expected to meet next week with leaders of European governments that continue to back Ukraine, as he seeks security guarantees and acceptable terms for any potential agreement.
Despite these diplomatic overtures, the ongoing attacks are inflaming tensions and casting doubt on Russia’s commitment to de-escalation.
The overnight strikes on Odesa, Kiper said, are “further evidence of the enemy’s terror tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure,” a charge Ukraine has repeatedly leveled against Moscow.
Meanwhile, Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting to attack Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northwestern Russia using 91 long-range drones late Sunday into early Monday. Ukrainian officials have firmly denied the claim, calling it a fabrication intended to undermine progress in peace negotiations.
Russian air force Maj. Gen. Alexander Romanenkov claimed Wednesday that the drones were launched from Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Speaking at a tightly controlled briefing where journalists were not allowed to ask questions, he presented a map allegedly showing the drones’ flight paths before they were intercepted by Russian air defenses over the Bryansk, Tver, Smolensk, and Novgorod regions. These claims could not be independently verified.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, dismissed Moscow’s allegations as a calculated distraction. “No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has indiscriminately targeted Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilians since the start of the war,” Kallas wrote in a post on X.
On the diplomatic and military support front, Zelenskyy announced Wednesday that Romania and Croatia have become the latest countries to join a multinational fund designed to purchase U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.
Russian Drone Strikes Kill Three in Ukraine, Cause Widespread Blackoutshttps://t.co/sgd4MPGeJ9
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 23, 2025
The mechanism, known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), pools financial contributions from NATO members—excluding the United States—to buy American weapons, ammunition, and military equipment for Kyiv.
Since its launch in August, 24 countries have joined the fund, Zelenskyy said. Contributions have reached a total of $4.3 billion so far, with nearly $1.5 billion added in December alone, reflecting sustained international support for Ukraine’s defense.
On the battlefield overnight, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 127 drones at targets across the country, with 101 successfully intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses. Russia, for its part, claimed that its air defenses shot down 86 Ukrainian drones over various regions, the Black Sea, and the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Russian officials also said that a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at an oil refinery in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region. Local authorities reported that the blaze was quickly brought under control, with no major casualties reported.
Zelensky Says Ukraine Open to Demilitarized Economic Free Zone With Russia https://t.co/qvHhN88FNG
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 25, 2025
As both sides continue to exchange strikes and accusations, civilians remain caught in the crossfire, even as international leaders push for a negotiated end to a war that shows few signs of easing on the ground.
Source breitbart
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