Zelenskyy Calls Russia Truce ‘Cynical’ After 23 Killed
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- Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s request for a ceasefire to stage a Victory Day parade, calling it “utter cynicism” while Ukraine end missile and drone strikes.
- Ukrainian authorities reported 23 deaths in recent attacks: 12 in Zaporizhzhia, 5 in Kramatorsk, 3 Naftogaz workers and 2 emergency responders in Poltava, and 1 in Kharkiv.
- Russia launched 11 ballistic missiles and 164 drones across the country in the wave of strikes.
- Zelenskyy offered a 24‑hour ceasefire starting at midnight on Wednesday, saying Ukraine would reciprocate if Russia stopped firing.
- Russian Defence Ministry said it downed more than 300 Ukrainian drones between late Monday and early Tuesday.
- Andrii Sybiha condemned the double‑tap strike on first responders in Poltava as “inhuman and criminal”.
- Russia’s army lost more territory than it captured in April, the first net loss since summer 2023, according to AFP analysis.
Why it matters: Zelenskyy’s rebuke highlights Ukraine’s refusal to trade a symbolic truce for Russia’s domestic propaganda, while the deadly attacks underscore Moscow’s continued offensive pressure on civilians. The stark contrast erodes any diplomatic leverage Russia might have hoped to gain from a ceasefire.
