Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that Russian military forces have not reduced their assault intensity, despite a ceasefire declared by Russia. Zelensky made these remarks on May 8, following a meeting with military personnel from the 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after General Leonid Stupnytsky, at their command post.
The 31st Brigade is currently engaged in defensive operations in the Oleksandrivka area, located at the intersection of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Zelensky stated, “I listened to the report from Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi regarding the situation at the front. Despite the announced ceasefire, the enemy has not diminished the intensity of their assault actions.” He also noted a detailed briefing from the brigade commander concerning the operational situation in their defense sector.
During the meeting, Zelensky discussed various pressing issues with battalion and company commanders, including the integration of foreign personnel into the brigade, the development of ground robotic complexes, and the support of innovation initiatives.
The President’s office further indicated that the 31st Brigade has implemented a distributed logistics system utilizing inexpensive ground drones, which reportedly reduces material losses. According to the Office of the President, drones are responsible for 60% of the brigade’s logistics.
On May 7, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine, effective from midnight on May 8 until May 10, coinciding with Victory Day, celebrated in Russia on May 9. The ministry urged Ukraine to follow suit, warning of an “adequate response” should they fail to do so.
In a statement on the morning of May 8, Zelensky reiterated that fighting continues on the front lines, asserting that there had been no attempts from Russia to even simulate a ceasefire. He has previously expressed support for a ceasefire, but emphasized that it should not be limited to a few hours solely for the purpose of a parade in Moscow. Zelensky had declared a “quiet regime” starting from midnight on May 6, which was reportedly violated almost immediately by Russian forces. Additionally, Russian authorities did not respond to Kyiv’s proposal for a ceasefire beginning at the same time.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported ongoing Russian military assaults despite a declared ceasefire, emphasizing the lack of any genuine cessation of hostilities. The 31st Separate Mechanized Brigade continues to engage in defensive operations, utilizing innovative logistics solutions to mitigate losses.