The Russia-Ukraine war saw a mixed week of symbolic gestures, renewed aggression, and escalating aerial threats, underscoring the persistent volatility on both sides of the front line.
A Russian overnight drone attack on Ukraine’s capital on Sunday injured at least 11 people, including two children, and President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a real ceasefire lasting at least a month in the more than three-year-old war.
Falling debris from destroyed drones started fires at residential buildings in Kyiv’s Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts, Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said on social media. The Ukrainian military said its air defense units shot down 69 of 165 drones launched by Russia overnight. There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the attack.
In addition to Kyiv, drones attacked Cherkasy in central Ukraine, where, national television said, 15 of the 22 drones targeting the city were shot down. Emergency services said one person had been injured, with damage caused to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.
Russia declared a three-day ceasefire beginning Wednesday night to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. The truce, which took effect at midnight Moscow time, was intended as a symbolic pause in honor of Victory Day, a major national holiday.
Ukraine, however, refused to commit to the brief ceasefire, instead proposing a 30-day halt in hostilities to allow for broader humanitarian relief. Despite Russia’s unilateral announcement, fighting continued, raising questions about the sincerity and effectiveness of the ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Wednesday that he stood by an offer to observe a 30-day ceasefire. “We are not withdrawing this proposal, which could give diplomacy a chance,” Zelensky said.
Just hours after it was supposed to begin, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian aircraft launched guided bombs on the northern Sumy region early Thursday morning. While no casualties or damage were immediately reported, the incident cast a shadow over the fragile truce and reinforced Ukrainian skepticism.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow had never opposed a ceasefire in Ukraine, after United States envoy Keith Kellogg said Russian President Vladimir Putin may be obstructing a comprehensive peace deal.
US Vice President JD Vance said during an appearance at the Munich Security Conference that Russia was “asking for too much” in its initial offer of a peace deal.
Aside from the bombing in Sumy, Ukrainian authorities reported no additional attacks on major cities as of Thursday morning. While quieter than usual, analysts cautioned against interpreting the lull as a shift toward de-escalation.
“Pauses like this are more about optics than peace,” said a senior military analyst in Kyiv. “Neither side is showing signs of retreating from their long-term objectives.”
Meanwhile, Russia this week reported a surge in drone activity near its capital ahead of its most symbolic national holiday. On Wednesday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that Russian air defenses intercepted 12 Ukrainian drones approaching the city. The incident forced the temporary suspension of flights at four Moscow airports and nine others across the country, underscoring rising tensions as Russia prepares for its Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
Victory Day, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II, is a cornerstone of President Vladimir Putin’s political calendar. The annual military parade on Red Square serves as both a patriotic spectacle and a demonstration of Russia’s military strength, often used by the Kremlin to bolster national unity and project power.
This year’s parade is expected to draw heightened international attention, with world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vietnamese President To Lam, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko among 29 leaders confirmed to attend, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. North Korea will reportedly send its ambassador to Moscow, while India, Nicaragua, and South Africa will be represented by senior delegations.
Tens of thousands of spectators are anticipated to line the streets of central Moscow on Friday, paying tribute to the more than 25 million Soviet soldiers and civilians who perished during World War II, in what remains Russia’s most solemn and politically charged public commemoration.
Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for the drone operations, but such strikes have become a recurring tactic aimed at disrupting Russian infrastructure and morale.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
