US Senate condemns Russia's killing of Ukrainian civilians on Christmas

On December 26, the corresponding statement was released on the website of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ukrinform reports.

"We condemn Russia's brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer. It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity's holiest days," the statement said.

The senators noted that even for countries at war there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including during World War I.

"Today's decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted," the statement said.

US lawmakers added that they stand together with the residents of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donetsk, who are marking the birth of Jesus Christ under the most difficult circumstances. "Ukrainians' faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin," the senators said.

As Ukrinform reported, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called on the world to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities, as Russia continues to bomb Ukrainian cities.

On December 25, Russian invaders throughout the day attacked the Synelnykove and Nikopol districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region with artillery, drones, and guided aerial bombs, damaging enterprises, homes, infrastructure, and a cultural center.

In Chernihiv, as of 18:00, it was known that an 80-year-old woman had been killed as a result of a Russian drone strike on a five-story residential building. Ten people were injured, including three children.

Russian troops shelled the central part of Kherson during the daytime on December 25, injuring three people.

As a result of a Russian strike on an evacuation group in the Donetsk region, a volunteer from Kharkiv, Viacheslav Ilchenko, was killed.

As of the morning of December 25, enemy strikes had left consumers without power in four regions - Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. In the Odesa region, emergency power outages were implemented due to the consequences of previous attacks.

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