Ukrainian parliamentary leader Ruslan Stefanchuk has condemned recent Russian attacks that occurred shortly after a ceasefire was announced. He characterized these violations as a deliberate strategy by Russia, undermining the credibility of any agreements made.
Stefanchuk stated that the breaches of the ceasefire, proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, are not random occurrences but rather a calculated tactic by what he termed a “terrorist state.” He emphasized that for Russia, any agreements hold less value than the paper they are written on and last only a fraction of the time spent discussing them.
He further elaborated on the true intentions behind Russia’s calls for a ceasefire, asserting that there should be no illusions regarding the aggressor’s motives. According to Stefanchuk, the only genuine guarantee for peace is to strip Russia of its capacity to wage war. He remarked, “Russia uses discussions about a ceasefire solely to recharge its weapons and launch surprise attacks.”
The ceasefire was set to begin at midnight on May 5. However, just minutes after its commencement, explosions were reported in Dnipro, attributed to drones launched prior to the ceasefire. Subsequently, from 4 a.m., Russian forces targeted regions including Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk with airstrikes.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reported that throughout the night, Russia launched 108 drone attacks and three missile strikes against Ukraine. He noted that Moscow’s calls for a ceasefire on May 9 are disconnected from genuine diplomatic efforts, asserting that the Kremlin is more focused on military parades than on the welfare of human lives.
Ukrainian officials have denounced Russian attacks that followed a ceasefire declaration, highlighting the aggressive tactics employed by Russia. The leaders stress that real peace can only be achieved by dismantling Russia's military capabilities.