Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a three-day ceasefire, fierce fighting erupted along the front lines in Ukraine on Thursday, reported by “The Nation News”. The so-called “Victory Day truce,” meant to coincide with a grand parade in Moscow, quickly fell apart as Ukraine reported hundreds of attacks.
Ukrainian officials called the ceasefire a “farce,” accusing Russia of launching 734 violations and 63 assaults by midday. “Putin’s parade ceasefire proves to be nothing more than a stage act,” said Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga. “Russian forces are attacking across the entire front line.”
While the Russian defense ministry claimed it was observing the truce—avoiding airstrikes and missile attacks—it also blamed Ukraine for continuing hostilities. “The Russian Armed Forces are respecting the ceasefire,” said a statement, “but Ukrainian units have not stopped their aggression.”
On the ground, however, the silence promised by Putin was shattered. Ukraine’s air force reported Russian tactical aviation strikes using guided bombs overnight in the northern Sumy region. A residential area near Bilopillya, a town close to the Russian border, was hit. Emergency workers rescued a woman trapped beneath the rubble.
“There were no missile or drone attacks in the early morning,” Ukraine’s air force added, “but bomb strikes intensified through the night.”
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s anti-disinformation center, reported Russian attacks not only in Sumy, but also along the eastern front and in Kharkiv. Ukraine, which never agreed to the truce, vowed to keep defending itself and share evidence of attacks with its allies.
As both sides trade blame and the guns refuse to fall silent, the so-called truce seems more like a mirage than a moment of peace.
