Russia’s announced “ceasefire” is not being observed, with Ukrainian officials reporting continued heavy fighting and air attacks in the first hours of 8 May.
The ceasefire was presented by Moscow as a temporary halt in fighting ahead of the 9 May Victory Day commemorations, a major state holiday in Russia marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, typically used for large military parades and public displays of military power.
Heavy shelling and drone strikes reported across frontline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 140 shelling incidents were recorded by 7:00 am, along with 10 assault operations, most of them in the Sloviansk direction.
He added that Russian forces carried out over 850 drone strikes of various types overnight, alongside persistent reconnaissance drone activity over frontline communities.
“All of this clearly indicates that there was not even a mock attempt by the Russian side to halt fire on the frontline,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukrainian Air Force data shows Russia also launched 67 drones overnight, including Shahed-type and decoy UAVs from multiple directions.
Air defence systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups intercepted or jammed 56 of them, with 11 impacts recorded across eight locations.
Kyiv says battlefield activity contradicts ceasefire claims
Ukrainian officials say the scale of attacks contradicts any claim of a ceasefire. Kyiv described the announcement as a narrative effort rather than a real reduction in hostilities, with fighting continuing across multiple front sectors.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine will respond “in kind” while continuing to defend positions and civilians, adding that any real path toward peace would require a genuine halt to Russian attacks.
