Russian Strikes Kill 22 Across Ukraine Hours Before Planned Ceasefire

Russian drone and missile strikes on Tuesday killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 80 across Ukraine. The attacks came hours before Kyiv planned a ceasefire and days ahead of a pause announced by Moscow.

Glide bombs hit the cities of Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv that afternoon. They killed at least 17 civilians and injured 45. Overnight strikes left five people dead and 39 wounded, according to The Associated Press.

"Absolute cynicism — to demand silence for holding propagandistic celebrations and then deliver such missile and drone strikes on all the days leading up to it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Zelenskyy said Russia could end the war at any time. "Every day, Russia could cease fire, and that would stop the war and our responses. Peace is needed, and real steps are required for it. Ukraine will act in kind," he said.

Russia's Defense Ministry said it would impose a unilateral ceasefire on Friday and Saturday for Victory Day. It warned of retaliation if Ukraine disrupts events, The Associated Press reported.

The United Nations welcomed the moves. Secretary-General António Guterres urged a full ceasefire. Guterres called for "a full, immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire, leading to a just, comprehensive, and sustainable peace, in line with the U.N. Charter, international law and relevant U.N. resolutions," The Associated Press reported.

Victory Day, observed each year on May 9 in Russia, marks the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.

Russia has announced short holiday truces before, most recently for Orthodox Easter. They failed to hold amid persistent mistrust between the two countries.

During that ceasefire, Ukraine's military reported more than 2,200 violations, including shelling, assaults and drone activity. Russia's Defense Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of nearly 2,000 breaches, including strikes in border regions that injured civilians.