Kiev’s troops have committed over 5,000 attacks during the ceasefire, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said
Ukrainian forces have attempted four cross-border incursions into the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod since the start of Moscow’s 72-hour ceasefire, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
Ukrainian forces continued to conduct military operations despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a Victory Day ceasefire from midnight May 8 to midnight May 11, the ministry said on Friday.
Apart from the incursion attempts, Ukraine launched 15 smaller-scale attacks on a number of settlements in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, according to the statement.
The Ukrainian military also continued missile and artillery attacks against Russian frontline positions, the ministry said. The Russian military has recorded 5,026 attacks since the ceasefire came into force. The assaults involved around 1,500 instances of artillery shelling and 3,502 drone strikes, it added.
Russia responded with tit-for-tat actions, according to the ministry.
Putin announced the ceasefire last week, describing it as a humanitarian gesture to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, which he said could also serve as a catalyst for “the start of direct negotiations with Kiev without preconditions.”
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky dismissed the initiative, calling it a Russian ploy and an “attempt at manipulation.” Kiev has ramped up drone strikes on Russian territory, with the Defense Ministry reporting a record 524 UAVs being shot down on Wednesday alone.
Nevertheless, the Ukrainian leader said on Thursday that Kiev is ready for a “complete ceasefire” without any preconditions at any moment, but insisted that it should last at least 30 days.
Russia has said it is ready for direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions,” and has advocated for a permanent resolution to the conflict that addresses the root causes. It has also warned that Kiev could use a temporary truce to regroup its forces and replenish its military equipment and ammunition.
