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Russian bombing and missile strikes on Ukraine’s power grid overnight killed at least five people and wounded 39 others, Ukrainian authorities said on Tuesday, less than a day before Kyiv signaled it would suspend the deal and three days before Moscow promised to end the deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reprimanded Moscow for what he called “absolute cynicism” when it launched an attack after Russia announced a truce two days later this week to mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
“Russia can stop fire at any time, and this will stop the war and our responses,” Zelenskyy said in letter X. “Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will do the same.”
The proposal for a peace agreement follows the usual pattern of Russia declaring a short ceasefire between the hostilities during the war organized for various holidays – the most recent Orthodox Easter – which does not produce any tangible results amid deep mistrust between Moscow and Kyiv more than four years after Russia launched an attack on its neighbors. Diplomatic efforts led by the US to stop the war have ended.
Last night, the Russians attacked the power infrastructure in the Poltava region. They also struck in a terrible way with a missile when the State Emergency Service personnel were already on the scene, putting out the fire. Currently, many people are reported injured.… pic.twitter.com/ftDb4Rsovk
Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a ceasefire in Ukraine on Friday and Saturday, but said it would return to the country if it tried to disrupt Victory Day celebrations, which Russia celebrates every year on May 9.
Zelenskyy responded that Ukraine will keep the agreement that starts at the end of Tuesday and will respond in kind to Russia’s actions from then on. He did not set an end date for closing the deal.
Airstrikes pound power grid
The Russian military shot down 11 Iskander-M missiles and 164 aircraft in Ukraine from Monday to Tuesday, including a Shahed drone, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Air defense units stopped 149 drones and one missile, but others got through, it said. Two ballistic missiles failed to reach their targets, the air force said without elaborating.
Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the war, which began on February 24, 2022. It hit natural gas production facilities in central Ukraine in Poltava and northeastern Kharkiv, the country’s energy company Naftogaz Group said.
Since the beginning of the year, Naftogaz facilities have been attacked 107 times, the company said.
Zelenskyy said the attack on Poltava was “very bad,” because Russia fired a second missile at the same location as emergency responders were working at the scene.
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Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Russia’s main targets were power plants, oil and gas infrastructure, railways and factories, although the attacks also damaged homes, businesses and the transport network.
Russian proposals for a ceasefire “remain only statements,” Svyrydenko said.
Ukraine reaches deep into Russia
Ukraine has also continued its long-range offensive into Russia’s rear areas, apparently targeting more oil fields in an attempt to disrupt Moscow’s military economy.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones overnight in 18 locations in Russia. Drones were also intercepted over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, and the Sea of Azov, it said.
Ukraine overnight launched F-5 Flamingo cruise missiles at targets including military and industrial buildings in Cheboksary, a city more than 1,500 kilometers away, Zelenskyy said.
The facility provides transportation services for Russia’s ships, missile industry, aircraft and armored vehicles, he said.
The regional Ministry of Health said a Ukrainian drone attack injured three people in Cheboksary.
Ukrainian jets also attacked the Kirishi oil refinery in the Leningrad region near St. Petersburg, a fire broke out in an industrial area in this city, said Gov. Alexander Drozdenko.
Drozdenko said on social media that 29 Ukrainian planes were shot down during the attack. No injuries were reported.
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Ukraine doubled its Russian strikes in April compared to March and quadrupled them compared to February, according to a monthly battlefield report from Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov published on Tuesday.
The midrange attack focused on warehouses, command posts, air defense systems and supply lines extending approximately 160 kilometers behind the front line.
Also, Ukraine’s underground robots completed the repatriation and evacuation of 10,281 people in April, an average of about 343 per day, according to Fedorov.
Couldn’t stand up independently of the claims.
