(SeaPRwire) – On Tuesday, Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people and left over 80 injured, occurring just hours before Kyiv had intended to declare a ceasefire and several days ahead of one announced by Moscow.
In the afternoon, glide bombs targeted the Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv, killing at least 17 civilians and injuring 45. Overnight attacks claimed five lives and wounded 39, as reported by The Associated Press.
“Absolute cynicism — to demand silence for holding propagandistic celebrations and then launch such missile and drone strikes on all the days leading up to it,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Zelenskyy further stated that Russia has the capability to end the war at any moment.
“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 announced its intention to enforce a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday in observance of Victory Day but warned it would respond with retaliation if Ukraine interfered with the events, according to The Associated Press.
The United Nations welcomed these developments, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging for a comprehensive 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,” as reported by The Associated Press.
Victory Day, observed annually on May 9 in Russia, commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.
Russia has previously declared brief holiday truces — most recently during Orthodox Easter — but they have not been sustained due to ongoing mutual distrust between the two nations.
During that particular ceasefire, Ukraine’s military recorded more than 2,200 violations, including shelling, assaults, and drone activity.
Conversely, Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of nearly 2,000 breaches, including strikes in border regions that it claimed injured civilians.
Digital’s Stephen Sorace and
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