Ukraine: Dozens Killed Hours Before Kyiv-Proposed Ceasefire

A wave of deadly Russian strikes hit eastern Ukraine late Tuesday night, only hours before a ceasefire unilaterally proposed by Kyiv was set to begin at midnight Wednesday (2100 GMT). The escalation unfolded just days before Moscow’s own planned pause in fighting, intensifying tensions on both sides.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia showed no indication of reducing hostilities ahead of the ceasefire deadline. Instead, he noted that attacks appeared to intensify as the truce approached.

In the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, at least 12 people lost their lives and about 20 others sustained injuries following a combination of guided aerial bomb strikes and subsequent drone assaults. Local authorities reported that after the initial bombardment, additional drone strikes targeted the same locations, worsening the destruction and complicating rescue efforts.

Further north, the frontline city of Kramatorsk suffered heavy damage as glide bombs struck residential areas, killing six people and injuring 12 more. Additional casualties were reported across multiple regions, including four deaths in Dnipro and five fatalities in the Poltava region, where gas production facilities were hit.

Zelenskyy Condemns Intensified Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticized the continued strikes, describing them as deliberate and unjustified. He highlighted that in some cases, follow-up attacks were launched while emergency responders were already working at impacted sites.

According to Zelenskyy, the repeated targeting of civilian areas and infrastructure underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis and demonstrates a lack of intent to de-escalate the conflict. He emphasized that such actions continue daily, affecting both cities and rural communities across Ukraine.

These incidents followed another deadly night earlier in the week, where multiple casualties were reported. Meanwhile, Russia announced plans to observe a ceasefire later in the week during its Victory Day commemorations on May 9, marking the Allied victory in World War II. However, aerial bombardments have continued despite the announcement.

Zelenskyy reiterated that a halt in hostilities could be achieved immediately if Russia chose to cease fire, stressing the urgent need for meaningful steps toward peace.

Ukrainian Counterstrikes Continue

Before the Kyiv-proposed ceasefire came into effect, Ukrainian forces also carried out operations targeting sites inside Russia. These strikes focused on oil infrastructure and military-industrial facilities, aiming to weaken Russia’s war capabilities.

Reports indicated that Ukrainian missiles targeted locations such as Cheboksary, situated over 1,500 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, resulting in injuries. Drone operations also reportedly struck the Kirishi oil refinery in the Leningrad region, triggering a fire in the industrial zone.

Shortly after the ceasefire deadline passed, authorities in Crimea reported civilian casualties in Dzhankoi following a drone attack believed to have been launched before the truce began.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that hundreds of Ukrainian drones were intercepted across multiple regions, reflecting the continued intensity of the conflict on both sides.