During the night of 12 May, the Russian army launched more than 200 drones at Ukraine. It also carried out attacks using aerial bombs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this in a post on Telegram.
“Russia itself chose to end the partial ceasefire that had lasted for several days. More than 200 attack drones were launched at Ukraine last night. Air strikes resumed along the front line — more than 80 aerial bombs were used, and over 30 air strikes were recorded,” he said.
Drones were shot down in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Mykolayiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv Regions, as well as in Kyiv and the surrounding area. Damage was reported to energy infrastructure, apartment buildings and a nursery school. Russia also struck a civilian locomotive.
“We know that people have been injured as a result of these strikes. Unfortunately, there are also fatalities. My condolences to their families and loved ones,” the president wrote.
He recalled that Ukraine had warned it would respond in kind to all Russian actions.
“Russia must end this war, and it is Russia that must take the step towards a genuine, lasting ceasefire. Until that happens, sanctions against Moscow are necessary and must continue to be enforced and strengthened. It is important that there be no let-up and that our partners do not stand aside, but continue to work together for the sake of security, justice and a lasting peace,” the head of state emphasised.
- Ukraine and Russia, with US mediation, observed a ceasefire on 9, 10 and 11 May.
- Prior to 9 May, Russia had unilaterally declared a ceasefire from 8 to 10 May in order to hold a parade on Red Square. Ukraine, however, proposed a different approach — not to tie the ceasefire to specific dates, but to introduce it from 6 May in order to save lives. Russia ignored the proposal.
- On 7 and 8 May, in response to Russian shelling, the Defence Forces carried out a series of successful long-range strikes. In particular, they targeted oil facilities in Perm on two occasions. They also struck the civil aviation administration building in Rostov, as well as targets in Yaroslavl and Chechnya.