Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today, "Russia can stop the fighting at any time. We will also stop responding, and the war will end. Peace is necessary, and practical steps are needed to achieve that goal."

He accused Russia of being "hypocritical for calling for a ceasefire only to hold celebrations, while still conducting missile and drone attacks daily until the ceasefire was to begin."

Russia launched 11 ballistic missiles and 164 unmanned aerial vehicles across Ukraine last night. President Zelensky stated Russia primarily targeted energy infrastructure. The attacks killed four people in Poltava province. Ukrainian emergency services reported Russia launched four missiles at the same location previously hit by a drone, causing a large explosion. Another person died in Kharkov.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Yerevan, Armenia on 4/5. *Photo: AFP*

Russia previously announced a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine for 8-9/5. Kiev also declared its own ceasefire on 5-6/5. This year, 8-9/5 marks Moskva's 81st anniversary of Victory Day in World War II. Russia warned that if Ukraine intended to disrupt the event, Moskva would launch a large-scale retaliatory missile attack on central Kiev.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated its forces targeted Ukraine's defense industry and energy facilities in response to "attacks on civilian targets in Russia." Russia also claimed to have shot down over 300 Ukrainian drones from the evening of 4/5 to the morning of 5/5, leading to temporary closures of many airports across the country that morning.

On 5/5, a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building in the Russian city of Cheboksary, approximately 1,000 km from the front line. The Russian Investigative Committee reported "deaths and injuries" but did not provide specific numbers.

Russian-controlled areas. *Graphic: Telegraph*

Short-term ceasefires between Russia and Ukraine are not uncommon. Both sides previously paused long-range attacks during Orthodox Easter last month. However, there are no signs that this conflict, lasting over four years, will be resolved through negotiations.

Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko commented that reciprocal ceasefires are merely "tactical struggles" on the political front.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, Reuters)