The Russian strikes came just hours before a unilaterally proposed Ukrainian ceasefire and days before Russia itself intends to observe a ceasefire. Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned “cynical, vile” attacks by Russia.
Ukraine said on Wednesday that Russia had violated a unilateral ceasefire called by Kyiv by attacking Ukrainian cities overnight with more than 100 combat drones and three missiles.
At least 27 people were killed and dozens more injured in Russian strikes across eastern Ukraine late on Tuesday night, just hours before Kyiv’s proposed ceasefire came into effect at midnight Wednesday (2100 GMT).
“With mere hours until Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal comes into force, Russia shows no signs of preparing to end hostilities,” “On the contrary, Moscow intensifies terror,” wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on social media.
On Wednesday morning, he said that Russia had breached a unilateral ceasefire declared by Ukraine by launching 108 combat drones and three missiles at Ukrainian cities.
“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,” Sybiha wrote on X, referring to the Kremlin’s own unilateral call for a halt to fighting during its World War II army parade on May 9.
Deadly attack on Zaporizhzhia
At least 12 people were killed and 20 injured in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia after a Russian attack with guided aerial bombs was followed up by Iranian-designed Shahed drones.
“A cynical strike on facilities in the city of Zaporizhzhia,” City Council Secretary Rehina Kharchenko told the Reuters news agency. “After the hit, the enemy intentionally began attacking those locations with Shahed drones.”
Further north, six people were killed and 12 injured when powerful glide bombs smashed into the frontline city of Kramatorsk, four people were killed in Dnipro and five people were killed in a strike on gas production facilities in the Poltava region.
Zelenskyy slams ‘cynical, vile’ attacks
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Poltava attack was “especially vile” because Russia, like in Zaporizhzhia, launched a second missile at the same target when emergency rescuers were working at the scene.
“These are absolutely cynical, senseless terrorist strikes devoid of any military sense,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. “Such Russian strikes on our cities and villages do not cease for a single day.”
The attacks came after five people were killed and 39 wounded on Monday night and after Moscow declared that it would observing a ceasefire later this week on Friday and Saturday as Russia commemorates the allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
The Russian Defense Ministry said it would strike back at Ukraine if it tries to disrupt the festivities on Victory Day, which Russia marks annually on May 9 – but has continued to bombard Ukrainian cities in the meantime.
“Russia could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses,” said Zelenskyy, rebuking Moscow for its “utter cynicism” in continuing its attacks. “Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind.”
