Zelenskyy slams Russia as strikes kill 22 in Ukraine before announced ceasefire

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. World Zelenskyy slams Russia as strikes kill 22 in Ukraine before announced ceasefire May 6, 20262:27 AM ET By The Associated Press This photo provided by Ukraine's 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade press service, shows the site of an aerial guided bomb strike after Russia's air attack in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP hide caption toggle caption Iryna Rybakova/Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade via AP KYIV, Ukraine — Russian drone and missile strikes carried out overnight and later on Tuesday killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 80 others, Ukrainian authorities said, hours before Kyiv was due to enact a ceasefire and three days before Moscow promised its own pause in hostilities. On Tuesday afternoon, powerful Russian glide bombs smashed into the eastern city of Kramatorsk, the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and the northern city of Chernihiv, killing at least 17 civilians and wounding 45 others, officials said.

Attacks the previous night killed five people and wounded 39, according to authorities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rebuked Moscow for what he said was its "utter cynicism" in launching the attacks after Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire over two days later this week while it marks the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Sponsor Message "Russia could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses," Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

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"Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind. " The Russian Defense Ministry declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday, but said that it would strike back at the country, if it tries to disrupt the festivities on Victory Day, which Russia marks annually on May 9.

Zelenskyy replied that Ukraine would observe a ceasefire beginning at the end of Tuesday and would respond in kind to Russia's actions from that moment on. He didn't put an end date on the move. In this photo, provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire a vehicle following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv region, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP/Ukrainian Emergency Service hide caption toggle caption Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP/Ukrainian Emergency Service U. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the unilateral ceasefires and "looks forward to their successful implementation," U. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

chief reiterated his call for "a full, immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, leading to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, in line with the U. Charter, international law and relevant U. " Moscow's proposal to stop fighting follows a familiar pattern of Russia declaring short unilateral ceasefires during the war timed to various holidays, most recently Orthodox Easter.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.