NATO scrambles warplanes as brutal Putin terrorises Ukrainians for Christmas as missile and drone attacks on heating and power supplies plunge civilians into misery
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NATO was forced to scramble warplanes on its eastern flank on Christmas Day as Vladimir Putin unleashed savage missile and kamikaze drone strikes on targets across Ukraine. Russia's warplanes, missiles and drones attacked key civilian infrastructure, specifically power plants and supply networks, to leave long-suffering Ukrainians freezing over the festivities.
![[People take shelter at a metro station during an air raid alert, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, December 25, 2024]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/25/07/93471693-14225591-image-a-2_1735113576550.jpg)
Moscow used its long-range strategic bombers, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 'Bear' aircraft, from Olenya airfield in the Arctic. Reports said Russian missiles had overflown Moldova - a sovereign state - and crossed the territory of Romania, a NATO country, prompting the security bloc's fighter jets to take flight.
![[Ukrainian servicemen of 117th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade pray before a Christmas dinner in Pokrovsk direction on December 24]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/25/07/93471687-14225591-image-a-3_1735113583184.jpg)
The Polish armed forces operational headquarters announced that its commander had 'activated all available forces and resources at his disposal, the on-duty fighter pairs were scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest state of readiness'.
![[Poland scrambled NATO fighter jets this morning to patrol NATO airspace (file photo)]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/25/08/93471725-14225591-image-a-4_1735113589534.jpg)
Explosions were reported in multiple Ukrainian regions, with Putin attacking key civilian infrastructure especially related to energy with much of the country facing low or subzero temperatures. At least six people were wounded in a missile attack on Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
![[Moscow used its long range strategic bombers, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 'Bear' aircraft, to deliver the strikes on Ukraine]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/25/08/93471707-14225591-image-a-5_1735113996256.jpg)
Ukrainian air forces said ballistic missiles attacked Kharkiv and Syniehubov said on the Telegram messaging app that there were 'damages to civilian non-residential infrastructure'. Vladimir Putin marked Christmas in Ukraine by staging missile strikes from his strategic air force bombers, combined with drone attacks. This picture shows an explosion and fire raging in Kharkiv.
![[People take shelter at a metro station during an air raid alert, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, December 25, 2024]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/25/08/93471695-14225591-image-a-7_1735114010453.jpg)
