Russian Barrage Strikes Ukraine Before Planned Ceasefire, Zelenskyy Condemns ‘Absolute Cynicism’

At least 22 people were killed and more than 80 wounded across Ukraine on Tuesday as Russian forces launched a series of devastating drone and missile strikes just hours before a planned Ukrainian ceasefire and days ahead of a pause announced by Moscow.

The afternoon attacks targeted multiple Ukrainian cities, with glide bombs striking Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv, killing 17 civilians and injuring 45. Earlier overnight attacks had already left five people dead and 39 wounded, according to reports from The Associated Press.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as demonstrating “absolute cynicism” on social media. “To demand silence for holding propagandistic celebrations and then deliver such missile and drone strikes on all the days leading up to it,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, referring to Russia’s upcoming Victory Day commemorations.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia could end the conflict immediately if it chose to do so. “Every day, Russia could cease fire, and that would stop the war and our responses. Peace is needed, and real steps are required for it. Ukraine will act in kind,” he stated.

The escalation comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Russia’s Defense Ministry had previously announced a unilateral ceasefire planned for Friday and Saturday to observe Victory Day, which commemorates the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. However, Russian officials warned they would retaliate if Ukraine disrupted any Victory Day events.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the ceasefire initiatives but pushed for a more comprehensive solution. Guterres called for “a full, immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, leading to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, in line with the U.N. Charter, international law and relevant U.N. resolutions.”

These recent attacks highlight the fragility of previous temporary truces in the conflict. During an Orthodox Easter ceasefire earlier this year, Ukraine’s military reported more than 2,200 violations, including shelling, assaults, and drone activity. Russian authorities countered with claims that Ukrainian forces had committed nearly 2,000 breaches, including strikes in border regions allegedly injuring civilians.

The timing of the current attacks has sparked particular outrage in Kyiv, as they occurred just before Ukraine’s own planned ceasefire and Russia’s announced pause in hostilities. This pattern of violence preceding announced pauses has deepened the mistrust between the warring nations and complicated diplomatic efforts to establish even temporary respites from fighting.

Emergency services throughout Ukraine have been working to extinguish fires and rescue civilians from damaged buildings. In the Kyiv region, responders were seen battling vehicle fires following drone attacks, while rescue teams in Zaporizhzhia worked through rubble at impact sites.

The conflict continues to take a devastating toll on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian populations. Russia’s use of glide bombs—weapons that can be launched from aircraft at a distance and guided to their targets—represents a tactical approach that has proven particularly destructive to urban areas.

As Victory Day approaches on May 9, a date of significant importance in Russia, tensions remain high with uncertainty about whether either the Ukrainian or Russian announced ceasefires will meaningfully reduce violence in the region. The international community continues to express concern over the intensifying attacks and the mounting civilian casualties in a war that shows few signs of resolution.