Zelenskyy blasts ‘absolute cynicism’ as deadly Russian barrage hits Ukraine before planned ceasefire

Russian drone and rocket strikes connected Tuesday killed astatine slightest 22 radical and wounded much than 80 crossed Ukraine, conscionable hours earlier Kyiv had planned a ceasefire and days up of a intermission announced by Moscow.

Glide bombs struck the Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Chernihiv connected Tuesday afternoon, sidesplitting astatine slightest 17 civilians and injuring 45. Overnight attacks near 5 radical dormant and 39 wounded, according to The Associated Press.

"Absolute cynicism — to request soundlessness for holding propagandistic celebrations and past present specified rocket and drone strikes connected each the days starring up to it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote connected X.

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Emergency services unit enactment to extinguish a conveyance occurrence pursuing a Russian drone onslaught successful the Kyiv region, Ukraine, connected May 5, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

Zelenskyy added that Russia could extremity the warfare astatine immoderate time.

"Every day, Russia could cease fire, and that would halt the warfare and our responses. Peace is needed, and existent steps are required for it. Ukraine volition enactment successful kind," helium said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry antecedently said it would enforce a unilateral ceasefire connected Friday and Saturday for Victory Day, but warned it would retaliate if Ukraine disrupts events, The Associated Press reported.

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Ukrainian rescuers enactment astatine the tract pursuing a Russian aerial onslaught successful Zaporizhzhia connected May 5, 2026, amid the Russian penetration of Ukraine. (Darya Nazarova/AFP)

The United Nations welcomed the moves, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging a afloat ceasefire.

Guterres called for "a full, immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, starring to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, successful enactment with the U.N. Charter, planetary instrumentality and applicable U.N. resolutions," The Associated Press reported.

Victory Day, observed each twelvemonth connected May 9 successful Russia, marks the Allied triumph implicit Nazi Germany.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky held a associated property league with Spain's Prime Minister astatine the Moncloa Palace successful Madrid connected March 18, 2026. (Javier Soriano/AFP)

Russia has antecedently announced abbreviated vacation truces — astir precocious for Orthodox Easter — but they person failed to clasp amid persistent mistrust betwixt the 2 countries.

During that ceasefire, Ukraine’s subject reported much than 2,200 violations, including shelling, assaults and drone activity. 

Russia’s Defense Ministry, successful turn, accused Ukrainian forces of astir 2,000 breaches, including strikes successful borderline regions that it said injured civilians.

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Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.