Russia launches drone attacks on Ukraine, defying ceasefire
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Russia launched dozens of drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, ignoring Ukraine's unilateral ceasefire that began at midnight, while Ukraine reported continued Russian shelling and drone strikes despite the ceasefire.
- The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Ukrainian drones targeted Russian regions, Crimea, and the Black Sea, with 53 Ukrainian drones reportedly shot down, and a Ukrainian drone strike in Crimea killed five people.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's ongoing attacks as a rejection of peace efforts and called on Moscow to end the war, highlighting Ukraine's readiness for peace and Russia's lack of willingness.
- Russia’s proposed ceasefire for May 9, coinciding with a Russian holiday, was dismissed by Ukraine as insincere, with Ukrainian officials urging increased international pressure on Russia through sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and support for Ukraine.
- The conflict continues as a slow, costly war along a roughly 800-mile front line, with both sides maintaining long-range strike campaigns and the war having caused over 15,000 civilian deaths according to the UN.
