Russia's temporary ceasefire has proved to be a “farce” because of continued attacks across the frontline, Ukraine has claimed.
The truce was supposed to run from Thursday until Saturday — which coincides with celebrations to commemorate the end of the Second World War.
But Kyiv has accused Moscow of violating the three-day ceasefire more than 700 times in its first 12 hours.
Andrii Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, said: “Predictably, Putin’s ‘Parade ceasefire’ proves to be a farce… Russian forces continue to attack across the entire frontline.
He added that his military had carried out 63 “assault operations” after Russia launched guided bombs over the northeastern city of Sumy and Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Kremlin for talks that Moscow hopes will provide a diplomatic boost at a key moment in the war with Ukraine https://t.co/JccVuxraQY pic.twitter.com/a2UETWM5Tw
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 8, 2025
A woman was killed and her son was wounded in the Sumy region on Thursday morning, according to the region’s Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military spokesman Viktor Trehubov said there had also been military assaults in several eastern areas after the ceasefire officially came into force at midnight Moscow time.
However, Russia's defence ministry insisted the ceasefire was being observed and accused Ukrainian forces of nearly 500 violations.
The comments came as world leaders, including Chinese president Xi Jinping, joined the Russian president at his “Victory Day” parade on Moscow’s Red Square.
The Kremlin has described its pause as a "test of Ukraine's readiness for peace", but Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the proposal.
A parade of bile and lies
The Ukrainian president called it a "theatrical show" designed to protect Putin’s image on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
He said: “It will be a parade of cynicism. There is just no other way to describe it. A parade of bile and lies.”
Since his inauguration in January, Donald Trump has sought to end the war in Ukraine by mediating with both parties.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament ratified the US president’s minerals deal without opposition, although the White House has recently scaled back its role in peace negotiations.
It leaves the two countries to work out how to end the three-year conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides and displaced millions of Ukrainians.
