Russia and Ukraine trade blame as fragile US-brokered ceasefire rocked by deadly drone strikes
The Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Russia accused Kyiv of violating a US-brokered ceasefire, claiming over 1,000 violations and attacks on civilian and military targets, with Russian forces responding in kind.
- Ukrainian officials reported casualties from Russian drone and artillery strikes, including one dead and multiple injured in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions.
- The ceasefire, brokered by former US President Donald Trump to mark Russia's Victory Day, was intended to last from Saturday through Monday, with a planned prisoner exchange.
- Ukraine's President Zelensky responded to the ceasefire and Trump's announcement with a sarcastic comment about temporarily suspending strikes on Moscow's Red Square for the May 9 parade.
- Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted and destroyed all 27 Russian strike and decoy drones launched overnight, maintaining active defense despite the ceasefire.