The much-anticipated two-day ceasefire declared by Russia to mark its Victory Day commemorations has effectively collapsed within hours of its start, with both sides trading accusations of violations. The truce, which began at midnight local time on Friday, was intended to provide a pause in hostilities as Moscow prepared for its annual military parade on May 9th.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a sharp rebuke, stating there was "not even a symbolic attempt" from the Russian side to halt attacks along the front lines. According to Zelensky, Russia launched over 850 drone attacks of various types and more than 140 strikes against Ukrainian frontline positions in the period surrounding the truce's start. Ukraine's Air Force reported shooting down 56 Russian drones near the battle line.
Moscow offered a starkly different account. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it had intercepted 264 Ukrainian drones during the night, asserting it was responding "symmetrically" to what it called Kyiv's violations of the declared truce. The mayor of Moscow also reported that nearly 20 drones had been downed over the capital since the ceasefire officially began.
Ukraine had previously dismissed the Russian truce as a propaganda maneuver, designed primarily to ensure the safety of the high-profile Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square. The event is a cornerstone of patriotic sentiment for President Vladimir Putin, who has used the memory of the Soviet victory in World War II as a central pillar of his leadership and to justify the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
In a notable shift, this year's parade will not feature military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades. Furthermore, the guest list has been significantly reduced, with only leaders from Belarus, Malaysia, and Laos, along with representatives from the Russian-backed breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, confirming attendance.
Hours before the truce took effect, Zelensky had warned allies of Moscow against attending the military parade, revealing that Ukraine had received messages from "some states close to Russia" confirming their representatives would be present in Moscow. He described this as a "strange desire" in the current climate.
The failed ceasefire underscores the deep mistrust and ongoing intensity of the conflict, which continues to see daily exchanges of drone and artillery fire. Peace talks, mediated by the United States, have made little progress and have been overshadowed by other global crises. Based on reporting from g1.