Putin Disregards Ukraine’s Unilateral Ceasefire, Says Zelensky: Tensions Escalate

Ceasefire Violations and International Reactions

Despite Ukraine’s call for a ceasefire, President Zelensky reports over 1,800 breaches by Russia. Decisions on further actions will be based on reports from the military and intelligence services later in the evening.

Ukraine had hoped for a peaceful resolution by declaring an indefinite ceasefire starting Wednesday midnight and had urged Russia to reciprocate. However, Russia’s prior commitment was to observe a ceasefire only on the upcoming Friday and Saturday, coinciding with the Victory Day celebrations over Nazi Germany.

In cities like Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Zaporizhzhia, where twelve individuals were killed on Tuesday, residential buildings, infrastructure, and industrial facilities were damaged by airstrikes after midnight. This, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, demonstrates Russia’s rejection of peace, with the ceasefire declarations for May 9 being mere pretenses unrelated to diplomatic efforts.

Sybiha criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin on the platform X, stating, “Putin cares only about military parades, not human lives.”

Counterclaims and Defense Responses

Contrarily, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of not adhering to its own ceasefire. It claimed that Russian air defense intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over Russian territories, the Crimean Peninsula, and the Black Sea by dawn.

The ministry also reported a Ukrainian attack on the city of Dzhankoi in Crimea, which resulted in five casualties. This attack, however, allegedly occurred before the ceasefire’s commencement.

Global Concerns and the Humanitarian Impact

Despite previous attempts at temporary ceasefires, the conflict in Ukraine, initiated by Russia’s invasion more than four years ago, shows no signs of abating. Mediation efforts by the United States have been fruitless.

According to the UN, since the start of May, at least 70 civilians have died from Russian attacks in Ukraine, with over 500 others injured. The UN Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine, led by Danielle Bell, has highlighted the alarming scale of casualties and bombardments.