Ukraine says Russia ignored a Kyiv-offered ceasefire beginning May 6, recording 1,820 violations by Wednesday morning. President Zelenskiy called Moscow's actions an "obvious spurning" of peace after dozens of frontline assaults, air strikes and drone attacks that caused civilian deaths and infrastructure damage. Russia warned of possible mass retaliation during Victory Day events and has bolstered air defences around Moscow, while Ukraine reports stepped-up strikes on Russian military and energy targets. The competing moves come as U.S.-backed peace talks remain stalled and fighting continues in the Donetsk region.
Zelenskiy Says Russia Spurned Kyiv Ceasefire Offer; Ukraine Reports 1,820 Violations
A resident with a dog and rescuers run during an air raid alarm at the site of the kindergarten hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of ignoring a Kyiv-proposed ceasefire and mounting dozens of frontline assaults, air strikes and drone attacks — actions President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called an "obvious spurning" of peace.
Rescuers work at the site of the kindergarten hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Ceasefire Offer and Immediate Response
Zelenskiy proposed a pause in fighting beginning on May 6, timed to overlap with a separate Russian-proposed ceasefire for May 8–9 around its Victory Day commemorations. Russia did not confirm that it would adhere to Kyiv's offer. In an official statement, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian monitors recorded 1,820 violations by late Wednesday morning.
Rescuers work at the site of the private house hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy
"Russia's choice is an obvious spurning of a ceasefire and of saving lives," Zelenskiy said, adding in his nightly address that Moscow "has responded to the proposal only with new strikes and new attacks," and that Ukraine would determine "our entirely justified responses."
Civilian Casualties And Damage
Ukrainian officials reported multiple civilian deaths and damage across several regions. In Sumy, four people were killed, including two female kindergarten workers (no children were present). Additional deaths were reported after a house was struck by a drone and from a mine thought to have been dropped by Russian forces. Overnight air attacks and strikes damaged private homes, infrastructure and industrial sites in Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia; a recent attack in Zaporizhzhia reportedly killed 12 people.
Rescuers work at the site of the private house hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy
Moscow's Precautions And Warnings
Moscow said it would hold a scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow this week without military hardware, citing an increased threat of Ukrainian attacks. The Russian Foreign Ministry, via spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, urged foreign diplomatic missions to be prepared to evacuate staff from Kyiv quickly in the event of a large-scale Russian strike. Russia's defence ministry earlier warned it would respond to Ukrainian attacks during the celebrations with a "massive missile attack" on Kyiv. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported a Ukrainian drone struck a building in the Russian capital overnight but said there were no casualties.
A rescuer works at the site of the private house hit by a Russian drone strike as the engine of a Russian drone lies on the ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy
Wider Context
Zelenskiy cited Ukrainian intelligence saying Russia has concentrated air defences around Moscow, which Kyiv says could create "additional opportunities" for long-range Ukrainian strikes elsewhere in Russia. Kyiv's forces have stepped up operations in recent months against military-industrial and energy targets — including oil infrastructure — as part of an effort to degrade Russia's war capacity.
Rescuers work at the site of the private house hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy
The competing ceasefire offers come amid stalled, U.S.-backed peace talks and an ongoing Russian offensive seeking control of the remainder of Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Public sentiment in Ukraine is mixed; some citizens and officials have expressed scepticism that a unilateral truce would hold while cities and frontline positions remain under attack.
"Maybe we should act the same way Russia does. That is, not to stay silent, not to observe the truce," said Nataliia Fomenko, a 52-year-old resident of Kyiv. "We have no other choice."
(Additional reporting by Yurii Kovalenko; Editing by Alison Williams, Ron Popeski, Alistair Bell and Stephen Coates)
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