Russia launched a series of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, resulting in some of the deadliest attacks of the year. Reports indicate that at least 27 people were killed and many others wounded, including 70 in one series of strikes. Targets included the power grid, an industrial facility in the Zaporizhzhia region, and the cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, and Dnipro. Ukrainian officials noted the use of powerful glide bombs and an overnight barrage consisting of 108 combat drones and three missiles. In Zaporizhzhia alone, at least 12 people were killed, marking one of the highest tolls from a single attack this year.
These strikes occurred amid conflicting ceasefire announcements from both nations. Kyiv initiated a unilateral ceasefire at midnight on Wednesday, May 6, while Moscow announced its own truce to coincide with the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. However, Ukraine accused Russia of ignoring and violating the truce, with attacks continuing even after Kyiv's ceasefire came into effect.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the Russian actions as cynical and vile, stating that the Kremlin had rejected efforts to save lives by launching fresh attacks. He rebuked Moscow for its utter cynicism in attacking cities while simultaneously announcing its own upcoming truce. Zelenskyy warned that Kyiv will decide its future course of action depending on the situation and will respond in kind to Russian aggression.