The Kremlin has called on Kyiv to issue a clear and final response to its proposed May 8–10 ceasefire, even as Russian forces continue to bombard civilian targets across Ukraine.
“We will wait not for ambiguous, but for final statements—and, more importantly, actions—aimed at de-escalation during the holiday period,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.
His remarks followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rejection of Russia’s ceasefire proposal, which he called a political performance rather than a genuine attempt at peace.
The call for a ceasefire comes amid intensified Russian attacks late Friday and early Saturday, with missiles and drones striking multiple Ukrainian regions. The Ukrainian military reported:
- 2 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
- 183 strike and decoy drones
- 77 Shahed drones shot down
- 73 decoy drones neutralized
The northeastern city of Kharkiv—close to the Russian border—was especially hard-hit, with 12 locations across four districts struck. Dozens were injured, and local resident Natalia described a harrowing night of destruction and survival:
“Everything is broken, everything is destroyed… We’re alive—that’s what matters.”
Authorities reported 51 people injured, including an 11-year-old girl and a 16-year-old.
President Zelensky emphasized that “no military targets were hit”, reaffirming that Russia continues to target civilians, a claim the Kremlin routinely denies despite extensive documented attacks on schools, hospitals, and homes.
Elsewhere on the frontlines, 216 combat clashes were reported Friday, with over one-third occurring near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. This remains one of the most contested areas, with 83 Russian assaults repelled.
Meanwhile, in Russia’s Krasnodar region, a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building in Novorossiysk, injuring two adults and two children.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported shooting down 170 Ukrainian drones, including 96 over occupied Crimea, and destroying eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles over the Black Sea.
Some pro-war Russian bloggers confirmed Ukrainian drone attacks, and claimed that a Russian Su-30 fighter jet was downed over the Black Sea—potentially by an unmanned sea vessel, according to Ukrainian intelligence.
These clashes underscore the stalemate in ceasefire efforts despite recent U.S. mediation attempts.
President Putin’s offer for a ceasefire to mark Victory Day (May 9) and the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end in Europe, seems timed to ensure safety for international guests in Moscow—including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President Zelensky countered that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire, as suggested by Washington, and warned:
“We do not recommend visiting Moscow on May 9. Don’t ask us for guarantees. It’s your choice.”
