KYIV, Ukraine — Moscow disregarded Ukraine’s unilateral ceasefire that took effect at midnight, launching more than 100 drones in overnight assaults across Ukrainian territory, officials in Kyiv reported Wednesday.
Ukrainian authorities documented 108 drone strikes and three missile attacks throughout the night and into Wednesday morning, according to Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry countered that Ukraine violated its own ceasefire declaration, stating its air defense systems intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, the occupied Crimean peninsula, and Black Sea waters from Tuesday evening through Wednesday dawn.
The Kremlin had provided no indication it would respect Kyiv’s ceasefire proposal, leaving little expectation for any reduction in fighting as the conflict enters its fifth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. Diplomatic initiatives led by the United States to halt the war have failed to achieve progress over the past year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had declared Ukraine’s ceasefire following Russia’s announcement of its own two-day pause in combat later this week to commemorate the 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. The Ukrainian president warned that ceasefire violations would prompt military retaliation.
“Moscow once again ignored a realistic and fair call to end hostilities, supported by other states and international organizations,” Sybiha wrote on X.
Tuesday’s Russian aerial bombardments across Ukraine resulted in at least 22 fatalities and injured more than 80 people, according to local authorities.
Russia’s planned Friday and Saturday combat suspension continues a established practice of Moscow announcing brief unilateral truces during the war to coincide with significant holidays, including Orthodox Easter most recently.
These temporary combat halts have failed to produce meaningful outcomes due to profound distrust between the opposing forces.
Sybiha characterized Russia’s behavior as evidence that Moscow’s separate May 9 ceasefire proposal lacks sincerity. “Putin only cares about military parades, not human lives,” he stated.
The foreign minister urged enhanced international pressure against Moscow, including additional sanctions, diplomatic isolation, war crimes accountability measures, and expanded military and civilian assistance for Ukraine.
