Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says Russia made a "conscious choice" by launching a major attack on his country's energy infrastructure on Christmas Day. Ukraine's air force said it had detected 184 missiles and drones, but many were shot down or missed their targets. We speak to an MP in the city of Kharkiv, which was hit by the strikes. Moscow confirmed the attack and said its goal had been achieved. Also in the programme: we'll hear about a deadly gang attack on a hospital in Haiti; what an Israeli former hostage negotiator makes of the stalled talks between Israel and Hamas; and the Newshour Christmas quiz. (Photo shows people taking shelter at a metro station in Kyiv, Ukraine during an air raid alert on 25 December 2024. Credit: Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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Last year, for the first time, many Ukrainians celebrated Christmas on this date, 25 December, a pointed shift from the Russian Orthodox tradition.
Today, the Russian military has been doing all it can to make it as miserable a Christmas as possible for many in Ukraine.
With a major missile and drone attack on the country's energy infrastructure, air raid alerts rang out across the country.
Many people in the capital, Kyiv, took shelter in metro stations after the alerts.
Among them, these women with their little children.
I am scared because I have a child.
Of course I want to be at home and celebrate.
But we had to shelter because it's scary to stay at home.
So he came to the shelter.
We want peace.
Doing such things early in the morning when people sleep.
I feel sorry for Kharkiv.