Russia launches one of the deadliest attacks on Ukraine despite the ceasefire announced for this weekend

BarcelonaVladimir Putin has a date marked on his calendar. Moscow is commemorating Victory Day and, for fear of Ukrainian drone attacks against the parade, he announced a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for May 8 and 9. But, while the day has not yet arrived, his air forces have continued bombing Ukraine, and this Tuesday they launched one of the deadliest attacks of the year. The various barrages of shells and drones they fired across the country have left at least twenty-two people dead. The most serious occurred in Zaporizhzhia, where twelve died.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Putin of "absolute cynicism" for promoting a truce only to be able to exhibit his military power to the world while continuing to attack Ukrainian civilians daily in the preceding days. "Russia could stop the attacks at any moment, and that would stop the war and our responses," the leader added.

Ukraine responded to the Russian announcement of a ceasefire with a counter-proposal: Kyiv offered to stop attacks for 24 hours starting from Wednesday at midnight. And it said it would act reciprocally if Russia maintained the truce.

Three regions affected

The Russian attack targeting the city of Zaporizhzhia, in southeastern Ukraine, took place in a residential area and affected buildings, a mechanical workshop, and a car wash. In addition to the twelve deaths, there are reportedly sixteen people injured. According to the regional governor, Ivan Fedorov, the impact of the projectiles reportedly caused a fire in a shop and another company. Images from the scene shared by users on social media show a heavily damaged building with flames and smoke rising. Burning cars are also seen as emergency services help bloodied people leave the scene.

In Kramatorsk, on the eastern front line, the impact of three dropped aerial bombs has killed five more people, according to Zelensky's report on Telegram. Five people were injured, added the leader, who warns that the death toll could rise. A third Russian attack on gas production facilities in the Poltava region last night killed another five people, according to Ukrainian officials.

For its part, Ukraine has also intensified long-range retaliatory attacks against the interior of Russia. It has hit oil refineries, terminals, and even fighter jets. In one of the latest, a Ukrainian drone hit an emblematic luxury residential skyscraper a few kilometers from the Kremlin. In contrast, in the Russian region of Chuvashia, a Ukrainian drone attack killed two people this Tuesday, according to the Russian state news agency.