Zelenskyy: Russia has violated ceasefire, Ukraine will respond in kind
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Russia has violated the ceasefire introduced by Kyiv from the beginning of 6 May, adding that Ukraine will respond in kind.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Quote: "After yesterday's savage strikes against our cities and communities – Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kramatorsk and others – the Russian army continued active hostilities and terrorist shelling throughout this day as well. Russia's choice is an obvious spurning of a ceasefire and of saving lives.
Assaults continue across all key sections of the front, and since the start of this day alone, the Russian army has already carried out nearly 30 assaults. More than 20 air strikes using over 70 aerial bombs have been recorded just overnight and this morning."
Details: Zelenskyy reported that as of 10:00, Russian forces had carried out 1,820 ceasefire violations: bombardments, attempted assaults, airstrikes and drone use.
Ukraine is set to act in kind, "taking into account Russia's persistent appeals through the media and social media platforms asking for a ceasefire during the Moscow parade", the president said, referring to the 9 May Victory Day celebrations. [Victory Day is a Russian holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, celebrated on 9 May – ed.]
Quote: "It is obvious to any reasonable person that a full-scale war and the daily murdering of people are a bad time for public 'celebrations'.
As of today, we can confirm that the Russian side has disrupted the ceasefire regime."
Background:
- On 4 May, Zelenskyy announced the introduction of the ceasefire. It was to begin exactly at 00:00 on 6 May. Russia has not officially responded to it.
- Earlier on 4 May, Russia's Ministry of Defence unilaterally declared a "truce" for 8 and 9 May and warned that if the Victory Day parade in Moscow on 9 May is "disrupted", it will launch a large-scale missile strike on central Kyiv.
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