Zelenskyy Slams Russia’s Ceasefire Offer as Drone Attacks Injure 11 in Kyiv

An overnight wave of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv injured at least 11 people, including two children, in the latest escalation of violence amid growing international calls for a genuine ceasefire in Ukraine’s more than three-year-old war.

The Ukrainian capital was rocked by explosions as air defence systems sprang into action, intercepting dozens of drones. According to Kyiv officials, falling debris sparked fires in residential neighborhoods, damaging buildings, vehicles, and essential infrastructure.

Photos shared by Ukraine’s emergency services showed firefighters battling fierce blazes through the night, including in Obolonskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded with sharp criticism of Moscow’s latest ceasefire proposal, calling it “cynical” and symbolic rather than sincere. Russian President Vladimir Putin had recently declared a brief truce for May 8–10 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II.

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“The Russians are calling for a ceasefire while striking Ukraine every single day. This is top-level cynicism,” Zelenskyy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Just this week alone, Russia has used over 1,180 attack drones, 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and 10 missiles of various types against Ukraine. If there’s a ceasefire—then not for their holidays, but for every day.”

Ukraine’s air force reported that 69 of the 165 drones launched by Russia overnight were intercepted, averting potentially greater damage. However, the scale of the assault stretched beyond Kyiv. In Cherkasy, central Ukraine, 15 of 22 incoming drones were reportedly shot down.

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One person was injured and multiple buildings, including a trading center, furniture factory warehouses, and garden plots, sustained damage, regional governor Ihor Taburets confirmed on Telegram.

Despite mounting evidence of civilian areas being targeted, both Moscow and Kyiv continue to deny direct attacks on non-military infrastructure. The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has left thousands dead and millions displaced, with no clear end in sight.

As Ukraine braces for continued assaults, Zelenskyy’s appeal underscores the growing urgency for a lasting and meaningful ceasefire that prioritizes human lives over symbolic gestures.