Kyiv accuses Moscow of using the truce as political theatre, citing ongoing attacks and mounting casualties despite claims of compliance from the Kremlin.
Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine has sharply rejected Russia’s three-day unilateral ceasefire, calling it a “farce” and accusing Moscow of carrying out hundreds of attacks since the truce was announced. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that there had been 734 Russian violations since the ceasefire began early Thursday, asserting that Ukraine was responding “appropriately” to each one.
Russia, meanwhile, maintained that the ceasefire, initiated by President Vladimir Putin in connection with the country’s Victory Day commemorations, was being observed. The Russian Ministry of Defence countered with claims that Ukrainian forces had violated the truce 488 times.
Despite the ceasefire, at least one civilian was killed in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region following Russian airstrikes. According to Ukraine’s emergency services, buildings in the town of Bilopillia, just south of the Russian border, were hit. Rescuers pulled a woman from the rubble, and Ukraine’s air force reported a surge in Russian glide bomb attacks in the area.
Ukrainian military spokesman Viktor Trehubov reported further Russian offensives in several eastern regions after the ceasefire officially took effect at midnight Moscow time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the ceasefire, labeling it a “theatrical show” intended to shield Moscow’s Victory Day parade from disruption. He reiterated calls for a longer, 30-day truce, noting that previous brief ceasefires—such as the 30-hour Easter pause—had also seen widespread violations from both sides.
The Kremlin framed its ceasefire as a “test of Ukraine’s readiness for peace,” despite previously rejecting a joint U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. Russia’s defence ministry claimed its forces had fully halted combat and were only responding to Ukrainian provocations in a “mirror-like manner.”
Ukrainian lawmaker and soldier Sviatoslav Yurash condemned the continued attacks, accusing Moscow of dishonesty. “We don’t want a peace that falls apart quickly,” he said, “and lets Russia try again to kill and destroy us.”
According to Stanford University’s Sergey Sanovich, the ceasefire was more about maintaining the appearance of openness to peace talks with the U.S. than offering genuine relief to Ukrainians. He added that Kyiv’s ongoing drone attacks indicated Ukraine was not seeking “peace out of desperation.”
Meanwhile, Russia reported a record 524 Ukrainian drones destroyed in just 24 hours, though no casualties were confirmed. The strikes disrupted air travel, affecting over 60,000 passengers.
In a high-profile diplomatic move, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Putin in Moscow on the eve of Victory Day to sign a new investment deal. Xi praised the China-Russia relationship as bringing “positive energy” to a turbulent world. He is one of 27 leaders expected to attend Moscow’s parade.
Ukraine, however, warned that it could not ensure the safety of foreign leaders attending the event. Former Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Fedorov acknowledged Russian concerns about potential Ukrainian drone attacks during the celebration. The Kremlin has responded by jamming mobile internet in central Moscow and boosting security.
President Zelensky, in a Thursday video address, walked through central Kyiv to pay tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers. Marking Victory Day in line with Europe’s 8 May tradition, he honored those who fought against Nazism and warned that evil must again be faced “resolutely, with force.”