In a recent report, it was disclosed that Russia has launched deadly drone strikes targeting civilian areas in Ukraine, resulting in significant casualties. On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials confirmed that the attacks, which occurred overnight, led to the death of a 12-year-old girl and left three others injured, including a six-year-old in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region.
In addition to the strikes on Dnipropetrovsk, Russia reportedly deployed 20 drones and 31 powerful guided bombs against Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. There was also an incident in Kyiv where debris from an intercepted Russian drone ignited a fire in a neighborhood, highlighting the ongoing threat to civilian safety.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral ceasefire that is set to begin on May 8 and last until May 10, coinciding with Victory Day, which commemorates Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. However, there were no specifications provided on how this ceasefire would be monitored. Ukrainian officials have characterized this announcement as a deceptive tactic aimed at misleading the United States regarding Russia’s intentions.
The ongoing conflict, which began over three years ago with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has seen a complex geopolitical response. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that while Ukraine is eager to secure vital U.S. military aid during the conflict, skepticism remains about Putin’s commitment to reaching a sustainable peace deal, especially amidst continued Russian attacks. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed doubts over whether Putin is genuinely interested in negotiating a ceasefire, suspecting that the Russian leader may be seeking to manipulate perceptions.
Ukrainian officials have openly dismissed Putin's ceasefire proposal. Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, stated that despite the announcement, Russia has not ceased its offensive efforts along the extensive 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and continues to attack civilian areas with long-range strikes. Yermak emphasized that while Putin could order his forces to halt operations, he appears reluctant to do so, aiming instead to mislead both Ukraine and the international community.
President Zelenskyy also accused Russia of persistently rejecting diplomatic efforts and attempting to use the ceasefire announcement to distract the U.S., calling for any ceasefire to be immediate, full, and unconditional, ideally lasting at least 30 days for it to be secure and guaranteed.
In response to the situation, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov argued that Ukraine's lack of a direct reply to Putin's ceasefire offer constitutes a manipulation of the situation. He stated that the absence of a response could be viewed as a failure to engage sincerely with Russia’s proposed initiative.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that the motivations behind Putin's ceasefire declaration could involve avoiding embarrassment from potential Ukrainian strikes during the Victory Day celebrations, which are expected to attract foreign dignitaries in Moscow. The think tank also emphasized that the Kremlin seems to be leveraging the situation to extract further concessions from both Ukraine and the United States while continuing its military actions.
Previously, during the Easter season, Putin announced a similar unilateral 30-hour ceasefire, to which Ukraine expressed willingness to reciprocate with a genuine truce. However, both sides accused each other of ongoing violations, leading to a continuation of hostilities.
