Share and Follow
In a tragic escalation of conflict, Russian drone and missile attacks claimed the lives of at least 22 individuals and left over 80 injured across Ukraine on Tuesday. This surge in violence unfolded mere hours before Ukraine had planned to initiate a ceasefire and just days before a temporary halt in hostilities had been announced by Moscow.
Among the hardest-hit areas were the Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv, where devastating glide bomb attacks in the afternoon resulted in the deaths of at least 17 civilians and injuries to 45 others. The Associated Press reported that overnight assaults also contributed to the grim toll, with five fatalities and 39 people wounded.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his outrage over the timing of these attacks, criticizing what he described as the “absolute cynicism” of demanding silence for propagandistic purposes while simultaneously launching missile and drone strikes. He shared his sentiments on social media platform X, highlighting the stark contrast between the rhetoric and actions of the Russian government.
In the aftermath, emergency services were quick to respond, working tirelessly to extinguish fires ignited by the drone strikes in the Kyiv region. This scene of devastation underscores the ongoing human cost of the conflict.
President Zelenskyy also noted that Russia holds the power to bring the war to an end at any given moment, emphasizing the urgent need for resolution and peace.
“Every day, Russia could cease fire, and that would stop the war and our responses. Peace is needed, and real steps are required for it. Ukraine will act in kind,” he said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry previously said it would impose a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday for Victory Day, but warned it would retaliate if Ukraine disrupts events, The Associated Press reported.
Ukrainian rescuers work at the site following a Russian air attack in Zaporizhzhia on May 5, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Darya Nazarova/AFP)
The United Nations welcomed the moves, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging a full ceasefire.
Guterres called for “a full, immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, leading to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, in line with the U.N. Charter, international law and relevant U.N. resolutions,” The Associated Press reported.
Victory Day, observed each year on May 9 in Russia, marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky held a joint press conference with Spain’s Prime Minister at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid on March 18, 2026. (Javier Soriano/AFP)
Russia has previously announced short holiday truces — most recently for Orthodox Easter — but they have failed to hold amid persistent mistrust between the two countries.
During that ceasefire, Ukraine’s military reported more than 2,200 violations, including shelling, assaults and drone activity.
Russia’s Defense Ministry, in turn, accused Ukrainian forces of nearly 2,000 breaches, including strikes in border regions that it said injured civilians.