Moscow: Russia and Ukraine have exchanged accusations of attacking each other’s territories, despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by Moscow. The ceasefire began earlier on Thursday and was intended to last for three days.
According to Anadolu Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the three-day unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine to commence at midnight (2100GMT) on Thursday, extending until midnight on May 11. Ukraine, however, rejected this offer, advocating instead for a 30-day pause as proposed by the US in March.
The ceasefire was intended to precede the annual military parade on Friday in Moscow’s Red Square, an event that foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, have been invited to attend in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. Victory Day, celebrated on May 9, marks the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany during World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.
The Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement asserting that its troops in Ukraine had halted hostilities, maintaining their positions since midnight, and refraining from conducting airstrikes. However, the Ministry accused Ukraine of attempting two assaults into Russia’s border region of Kursk and an attack near Toretsk, a front-line settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, which Moscow claimed to have captured in February.
The Ministry further alleged that Ukraine violated the ceasefire 488 times, stating, “The deliberate destructive actions of the Ukrainian side against Russia confirm the desire of the Kyiv regime to prevent a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.” Despite these allegations, Russia expressed its intention to continue to act “adequately” in response to the situation.
Kyiv has yet to respond to Moscow’s statement, but Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Telegram that Russia launched guided bombs on Sumy, a northeastern border region, during the early hours of the ceasefire. Following discussions with military command, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of committing 734 ceasefire violations and 63 assault operations between midnight and midday.
Sybiha stated, “We are responding appropriately to all attacks and sharing all relevant information about Russia’s ceasefire violations with the United States, the EU and European partners, all other states, and international organizations. We will not let Putin fool anyone when he does not even keep his own word.”
Amid the ongoing armed conflict, now extending over three years, independent verification of claims from both Russia and Ukraine remains challenging.