Russian forces struck a multi-story residential building in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv during the Christmas period, killing one civilian and injuring five others, including a child, local authorities said.
The strike caused a fire in one of the apartments and also damaged a critical infrastructure facility, underscoring that Russian attacks have continued unabated despite international calls for restraint during Christmas.
According to Chernihiv City Military Administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, the attack hit a five-story building, triggering a blaze that required emergency response and evacuation efforts.
Initial reports suggested two fatalities, but Bryzhynskyi later clarified that one person had been killed and five injured. All wounded civilians were hospitalized and are receiving medical care, he said.
Civilian areas and infrastructure targeted
In addition to the residential building, Russian forces also struck a critical infrastructure site in Chernihiv, Bryzhynskyi said, without disclosing further details for security reasons.
Emergency services extinguished the fire and continued to assess structural damage to the building, while law enforcement documented the aftermath of the strike.
The attack came as Russian forces maintained pressure on Ukrainian cities far from the front line, with residential neighborhoods and essential infrastructure repeatedly coming under fire.
Wider pattern strikes during Christmas
Chernihiv was not the only city affected. Around the same period, Russian forces shelled central districts of Kherson, striking a market where preparations for Christmas celebrations were underway.
According to Kherson Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Prokudin cited by online media outlet Radio Liberty, the attack destroyed market stalls and killed a 47-year-old market worker.
“This strike claimed the life of a man who was at his workplace,” Prokudin said.
The regional prosecutor’s office confirmed that a criminal case was opened under articles related to war crimes resulting in death.
Energy infrastructure also under fire
At the same time, Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector after a deadly overnight barrage earlier in the week. At least three people, including a child, were killed when Russian missiles and drones struck multiple regions overnight on Tuesday, hitting residential areas.
In Vyshhorod, a town north of Kyiv, a 76-year-old woman was killed and three others were injured. In Zhytomyr Oblast, authorities said a four-year-old child died and at least six people were wounded. Local officials reported damage to apartment buildings, private businesses and a shop, marking the second consecutive day of air attacks on the region.
Following the deadly strikes, Russian forces escalated attacks on critical infrastructure. State-owned energy company Naftogaz said gas and oil facilities across Ukraine were targeted for a second consecutive day, with nearly 100 drones hitting production sites operated by its subsidiary Ukrnafta. Ukrainian officials earlier reported a nationwide assault involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles aimed at energy infrastructure in the days leading up to Christmas.
Attacks continue despite truce discussions
Ukraine’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said that over the past day, 151 combat engagements were recorded along the front line.
Russian forces carried out missile and air strikes, dropped guided aerial bombs, and launched thousands of drones and artillery attacks on Ukrainian troop positions and settlements, according to the military.
The recent strikes occurred after last week’s renewed international discussions about a possible Christmas truce – proposals that the Kremlin publicly rejected recently.
Despite the seasonal period typically associated with reduced hostilities, Russian forces continued launching strikes across Ukraine, including against civilian targets, Ukrainian officials said.
War crimes investigations ongoing
Ukrainian authorities and international organizations have repeatedly classified Russian strikes on residential buildings, markets and energy infrastructure as potential war crimes, stressing their deliberate nature.
In Chernihiv, emergency services and investigators continue documenting the damage as authorities warn that civilian areas remain at risk — even during periods traditionally associated with ceasefires or reduced hostilities.