On Christmas morning, Ukrainians sought shelter in subway stations as Russian missiles and drones rained down on their cities.

Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which he said was aimed at plunging his people into darkness.

“Putin consciously chose Christmas,” he said on Wednesday. “What could be more inhumane?”

Russia’s Defense Ministry said it carried out a “massive attack” on energy facilities allegedly supporting the Kiev military.

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the strikes were “bloody and brutal… even at Christmas there was no respite.”

In the east, Kremlin forces claim they have captured the settlement of Vidrodzhennia while continuing to make territorial gains.

“Christmas present to Ukraine”

Regions across the country reported missile and drone attacks as Ukrainians spend another holiday season facing attacks on their energy infrastructure.

The Kiev military said it shot down 59 Russian missiles and 54 drones, but others made it through its air defenses.

Hits Kharkiv Six people were injured and half a million were left without heat in the region as temperatures reached just a few degrees above zero.

“Kharkiv is under massive rocket fire. There have been a number of explosions in the city and ballistic missiles are still flying towards the city. Stay in safe places,” said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

There were power outages in the capital, while one person was killed in the Dnipro region.

Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysa said the Russian army was trying to destroy the region’s energy system.

Ukrainians celebrated Christmas for the second time since celebrating on the same day as the West, taking shelter in underground subway stations as the deadly volley of rockets barreled toward them.

“Russia’s Christmas present to Ukraine: more than 70 missiles and 100 drones,” said US Ambassador Bridget Brink. “Russia is weaponizing winter for the third time.”

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Four dead in the Kursk region

In the east, Ukrainian soldiers celebrated Christmas by candlelight while eating together near the front.

Fighting in Donbas continues to be fierce as Russian forces advance and make steady progress.

On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had captured the settlement of Vidrodzhennia.

Across the border, in Russia’s Kursk region, four people were killed and five injured in the town of Lgov by Ukrainian shelling, the region’s acting governor said.

“A five-story residential building, two one-story residential buildings and a one-story beauty salon were severely damaged,” Alexander Khinshtein wrote on Telegram.

Pope calls for peace talks

At the Vatican, Pope Francis directly mentioned the war in Ukraine in his Christmas message and called for “the courage necessary to open the door to negotiations.”

He spoke to thousands of people from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and said: “May the noise of weapons in war-torn Ukraine cease!”

He also called for “gestures of dialogue and encounter to achieve a just and lasting peace.”