Putin Announces Ceasefire, but Attacks Continue: Ukraine Blames Russia

Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing a three-day ceasefire in honor of Victory Day, Ukrainian authorities report that attacks from the Russian side are still ongoing.

According to an official statement from Ukraine’s Air Force Telegram channel, on the night of May 8, Russian tactical aviation launched guided aerial bombs toward Sumy region. It also warned of a heightened threat of air weapons being used in regions near the front line.

So far, there have been no official reports of casualties or damage, but Ukrainian forces continue to treat these actions as a serious military threat.

At the same time, not a single Russian drone was detected in Ukrainian airspace that night. Ukraine, too, reportedly refrained from launching mass drone attacks on Russian territory, with only isolated UAV incidents reported. Specifically, the governor of Lipetsk region, Igor Artamonov, stated that there was a potential drone strike threat in his region overnight.

In a related move, Nizhny Novgorod Airport was temporarily closed at 04:30 Moscow time "to ensure flight safety," according to the Federal Air Transport Agency. This comes after a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks a day earlier disrupted airport operations across Moscow and other regions of Russia, reportedly affecting at least 60,000 passengers.

Putin’s announced ceasefire was intended to last from 00:00 on May 8 until 00:00 on May 11 Moscow time. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier stated that Kyiv would not accept a short-term ceasefire, instead proposing a minimum 30-day truce.

In summary, despite symbolic gestures for peace surrounding Victory Day, hostilities and mutual accusations persist. A true and lasting peace remains elusive, with both sides holding firm to their positions. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!