Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukrainian cities overnight Tuesday, killing at least 27 people, just hours before a unilateral ceasefire proposed by Kyiv was to take effect. Ukraine accused Moscow of violating the truce.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the strikes, stating that Russia shows no signs of ending hostilities and instead intensifies terror. He noted that Russia launched 108 combat drones and three missiles at Ukrainian cities after Kyiv's ceasefire declaration.

In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian attack using guided aerial bombs followed by Iranian-designed Shahed drones killed 12 people and wounded 20. City Council Secretary Rehina Kharchenko described a cynical double-tap strike targeting emergency responders.

Further north, six people were killed in Kramatorsk by glide bombs, four in Dnipro, and five in a strike on gas production facilities in Poltava region. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attacks especially vile, noting that Russia struck the same target twice to hit rescuers.

The attacks came after Moscow declared it would observe a ceasefire on May 9 for Victory Day, but continued bombarding Ukrainian cities in the interim. Russia's Defense Ministry threatened to retaliate if Ukraine disrupts its festivities.

Ukraine also struck targets inside Russia before its ceasefire took effect, including an F-5 Flamingo cruise missile attack on military-industrial facilities in Cheboksary and a drone strike on the Kirishi oil refinery near St. Petersburg. Russia claimed to have destroyed 289 Ukrainian drones across 18 regions.

Source: www.dw.com