Russian Strikes Kill at Least 27 in Ukraine Hours Before Proposed Ceasefire Deadlines

Russian forces carried out multiple strikes in eastern Ukraine on May 5, 2026, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens more, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks came hours before a midnight deadline for an open-ended ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, which urged Russia to reciprocate.

Moscow, for its part, had declared a separate truce for May 8-9 to coincide with Victory Day events commemorating the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. In Zaporizhzhia, aerial bombs and drones struck residential areas, a car repair service, and other facilities, killing 12 people and injuring 20, regional authorities reported.

Footage showed flames engulfing vehicles and buildings, with thick black smoke rising as medics treated the wounded. Prosecutors in Donetsk region said three aerial bombs in Kramatorsk killed six and injured 12, while strikes in Dnipro claimed four lives, according to the president.

Ukraine's proposal for an indefinite ceasefire starting at midnight on May 6 aimed to halt hostilities immediately, with officials stating they would act symmetrically based on Russia's response. In response, Ukraine launched drone attacks into Russian territory, targeting industrial sites in Leningrad and Chuvashia regions.

Russian authorities reported two deaths and 32 injuries from a Ukrainian drone strike in Chuvashia on May 5 morning. The Russian defense ministry said it intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and other regions in a seven-hour period ending that evening.

Shortly after Ukraine's ceasefire began, the Russia-appointed head of Crimea reported a Ukrainian drone attack killing five civilians in Dzhankoi, though it likely occurred before the deadline.

“These are absolutely cynical, senseless terrorist strikes devoid of any military sense,”

Ukrainian leaders described the Russian actions as cynical, especially given Moscow's request for a brief truce for its military parade while continuing daily strikes. The foreign minister noted on social media that Russia showed no signs of preparing to end hostilities, instead escalating attacks.

Russian officials largely ignored the Ukrainian offer, with the prime minister issuing greetings praising servicemen after midnight. The rival ceasefires remain unilateral, without agreed terms or monitoring mechanisms. Ukraine's chief of staff indicated that if reciprocated, the truce would continue, emphasizing a shift toward diplomacy.

Meanwhile, Russia warned of massive strikes on Kyiv if its own ceasefire was violated, and scaled back its Victory Day parade due to security concerns. In recent weeks, Ukraine has increased deep-strike operations into Russia, disrupting energy facilities and using domestically produced missiles.

Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have continued since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths. Both sides exchanged accusations of violations even as the ceasefires loomed.

The attacks in Zaporizhzhia sparked fires at shops and enterprises, with officials reporting deliberate follow-up drone strikes on hit locations. In Kramatorsk, the strikes targeted frontline areas, exacerbating the humanitarian toll. Russian media reported no immediate strikes after Ukraine's ceasefire started, but tensions persisted with airport closures and drone interceptions across Russia.

Ukraine positioned its open-ended truce as prioritizing human life over anniversaries, urging Russia to end the war. Moscow's scaled-down parade, without heavy hardware, reflected heightened alertness to Ukrainian threats. The lack of coordination between the proposals highlights ongoing distrust, with each side pinning potential violations on the other.