Arabic version: الضربات الروسية تودي بحياة العشرات قبل الهدن المقترحة
Russian attacks killed more than 20 people across Ukraine on Tuesday ahead of rival unilateral ceasefires proposed separately by Moscow and Kyiv. Overnight combined missile and drone strikes killed five and injured dozens across Ukraine.
Authorities in Zaporizhzhia said 12 people were killed in a Russian aerial attack, which President Volodymyr Zelensky described as a “cynical terrorist strike”. He said five people were killed in Kramatorsk and four in Dnipro. In Russia, authorities in the Chuvash Republic said two people were killed and 32 injured in a drone attack on Tuesday morning.
According to BBC News, both nations declared unilateral ceasefires ahead of Russia’s Victory Day commemorations, with Russia planning to observe a ceasefire on 8 and 9 May. In response, Ukraine announced an open-ended ceasefire effective from midnight on 6 May, indicating it would act “symmetrically” based on Russia’s actions.
Zelensky’s chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that Ukraine would adhere to the ceasefire if reciprocated by Russia, emphasizing that the next move lies with the Kremlin. Zelensky urged Russia to abandon military actions and pursue genuine diplomacy, criticizing the timing of the attacks leading up to the celebrations.
In a show of military capability, Ukraine conducted aerial strikes against targets in Russia, including a factory producing military components. These attacks utilized domestically-produced Flamingo cruise missiles, demonstrating Ukraine’s expanding operational range. The Russian defense ministry reported downing several Ukrainian drones and missiles during these operations.
As the 9 May Victory Day celebrations approach, the Kremlin has displayed signs of apprehension, scaling back the planned military parade due to perceived threats from Ukraine. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the downing of drones near the capital, while warnings were issued about potential disruptions to mobile internet access leading up to the event. Zelensky remarked that Russia’s inability to hold a parade without Ukraine’s goodwill signifies the need for an end to hostilities.
