Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian forces continued striking Ukrainian positions overnight, despite Moscow’s declared ceasefire. He said the attacks showed no genuine attempt to halt fighting on the front lines. The remarks further escalated tensions over competing ceasefire claims between both sides.
Russia’s defence ministry had announced a ceasefire from midnight May 8 to May 10. The pause was linked to World War Two commemorations in Moscow. However, Ukrainian authorities reported continued shelling and assaults across multiple frontline sectors. Zelenskiy also said Russia had previously violated an earlier proposed truce starting May 6.
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Meanwhile, Zelenskiy had proposed an open-ended ceasefire beginning May 6 to reduce violence. He said the initiative was aimed at creating conditions for diplomatic engagement. Ukrainian officials, however, claimed Russian forces did not respect the proposal. Consequently, both sides have continued to accuse each other of violating temporary ceasefire arrangements.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has remained active with sustained fighting across key frontlines. Previous attempts to establish short-term pauses have repeatedly collapsed amid mutual distrust. International mediation efforts have so far failed to secure a lasting agreement. Analysts say battlefield dynamics continue to drive political positions on both sides.
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The latest dispute underscores the fragility of ceasefire declarations in the ongoing war. While Russia framed its pause as symbolic, Ukraine dismissed it as ineffective in practice. The situation continues to fuel concerns over prolonged conflict and regional instability.