Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of violating a unilateral ceasefire declared by Kyiv, as Moscow launched attacks with 108 combat drones and three missiles overnight. The ceasefire, called by President Volodymyr Zelensky, was set to begin at midnight on May 6, in response to Russia's announcement of a short-term truce covering its Victory Day parade in Moscow on Saturday. Moscow had not agreed to abide by Kyiv's ceasefire.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Condemns Russia
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media: "This shows that Russia rejects peace and its fake calls for a ceasefire on May 9th have nothing to do with diplomacy. Putin only cares about military parades, not human lives."
Previous Attacks and Casualties
On Tuesday, Russia launched waves of drone, missile, and bomb attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities, killing at least 28 people and wounding dozens in one of the deadliest days for civilians in weeks. In response, Ukrainian attacks killed five in the annexed peninsula of Crimea and two in a long-range drone strike on central Russia.
The two countries have been at war since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Talks to end the conflict, which has become Europe's worst since World War II, have made little progress. Moscow demands that Kyiv withdraw troops from the east and reject Western military support, conditions Kyiv views as tantamount to capitulation and a betrayal of hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed.
Russia's defense ministry said it shot down 53 Ukrainian drones between 21:00 and 07:00 (1800-0400 GMT), far fewer than in previous days. It did not specify whether any of the drones attacked after Kyiv's unilateral truce was supposed to take effect at midnight.
