Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian drone and missile strikes targeting the country's power grid overnight killed at least five people and wounded 39 others, according to officials on Tuesday.
Zelenskyy's Response
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Moscow for what he termed its 'utter cynicism' in launching the attacks after Russia announced a unilateral truce for two days later this week, marking the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. 'Russia could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses,' Zelenskyy stated on social media. 'Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind.'
Pattern of Ceasefires
The truce proposal follows a familiar pattern of Russia declaring short unilateral ceasefires during the war, timed to various holidays—most recently Orthodox Easter—that have not yielded tangible results amid deep mistrust between Moscow and Kyiv, more than four years after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour. The Russian Defence Ministry declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday but warned it would strike back if Ukraine attempted to disrupt Victory Day celebrations on May 9. Zelenskyy responded that Ukraine would observe a truce beginning at midnight on Wednesday and would reciprocate Russia's actions from that moment, without specifying an end date.
Details of the Attack
Russian forces launched 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 164 attack drones at Ukraine overnight from Monday to Tuesday, including a jet-powered Shahed drone variant, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. Air defence units intercepted 149 drones and one missile, but others penetrated defences. Two ballistic missiles failed to reach their targets, the air force said without further elaboration. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure throughout the war, which began on February 24, 2022. The state energy company Naftogaz Group reported that natural gas production facilities in the central Poltava and northeastern Kharkiv regions were hit. Since the start of the year, Naftogaz facilities have come under attack 107 times, the company noted.
Civilian Impact
Zelenskyy described the attack on Poltava as 'especially vile' because Russia launched a second missile at the same location while emergency rescuers were working at the scene. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated that Russia's primary targets were energy facilities, oil and gas infrastructure, railways, and industrial sites, although residential homes, businesses, and transportation networks were also damaged. She added that Russia's ceasefire proposals 'remain only statements.'
Ukrainian Counterattacks
Ukraine continued its long-range attacks on Russian rear areas, apparently targeting oil facilities. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed its forces destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones overnight across 18 Russian regions, with additional drones intercepted over occupied Crimea and the Azov Sea. A Ukrainian drone attack wounded three people in Cheboksary, east of Moscow and over 900 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, according to the regional health ministry. Ukrainian drones also struck the Kirishi oil refinery in the Leningrad region near St. Petersburg, sparking a fire in the town's industrial zone, local Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported. He said 29 Ukrainian drones were shot down during the attack, with no casualties reported.
