⌨Pope Francis opened the Holy Door marking Jubilee 2025's start, while Russia launched a massive Christmas missile attack on Ukraine's infrastructure. The morning coverage split between these parallel events, with the Pope's wheelchair-assisted ceremony drawing 30,000 faithful.
By midday, reports emerged of a commercial aircraft crash in Kazakhstan, initially attributed to bird strikes. As the day progressed, the narrative shifted from natural causes to potential Russian anti-aircraft involvement, with evidence of bullet holes in the fuselage. The final toll showed 29 survivors among 67 passengers.
The evening brought reports of 500,000 people in Kharkiv losing water and heating access due to Russian strikes. A Russian cargo ship's sinking in the Mediterranean added complexity to the day's military developments, with the ship's operator claiming terrorism. Meanwhile, rescue operations for missing alpinists on Gran Sasso remained suspended due to severe weather.