Russian forces launched a series of deadly bombardments across multiple Ukrainian cities on Tuesday, resulting in more than 20 fatalities and numerous injuries. President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the attacks, highlighting the tragic loss of life.
Notably, these strikes coincided with Moscow’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire to mark its Victory Day celebrations on May 9. Zelensky dismissed this offer as deeply insincere, emphasizing that the recent bloodshed revealed the Kremlin’s true intentions.
The southern city of Zaporizhzhia bore the brunt of the violence, with at least 12 people killed and 37 wounded during daytime shelling. Ukraine’s emergency services noted this as one of the deadliest single attacks recorded this year.
Additional attacks were reported in Dnipro, where four people lost their lives, and in central Kramatorsk, where local officials confirmed five fatalities. Social media footage from Kramatorsk showed distressing scenes of bodies lying in the streets amid thick smoke and raging fires.
In a significant development, the escalation followed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a brief truce for the upcoming holiday. Zelensky had already rejected this, calling instead for a permanent and open-ended ceasefire.
The Ukrainian leader stressed that his nation seeks enduring peace, not a temporary pause designed solely to safeguard military parades in Moscow. He accused Russian forces of demonstrating no restraint in targeting civilians and critical infrastructure during these latest, what he termed, “cynical” attacks.
