Russian attacks on northeastern Ukraine killed at least one person as the countrys air force issued several alerts for missile and bomb attacks, despite a unilateral ceasefire ordered by President Vladimir Putin.In the Sumy district, nighttime shelling sparked fires in three residential buildings.
Firefighters worked from night through early morning to contain the blazes.
Sadly, one civilian was killed in the attack, Ukraines State Emergency Service said in a statement.In the village ofBilopillya, near the Russian border, a woman trapped under rubble was rescued following overnight airstrikes, emergency officials added.Putins 72-hour truce, declared to coincide with Russias Victory Day celebrations this week, has been dismissed as political theater by Ukrainian officials, who instead called for a 30-day ceasefire initially proposed by the United States in March.Ukraines Air Force initially reported no missile or drone activity as of 8:00 a.m.
local time Thursday, but said Russia had intensified tactical airstrikes using guided aerial bombs on Sumy overnight.
Shortly after,the air force issued several air raid alerts for rocket and bomb attacks.Russias Defense Ministrysaid that all of its troopscompletely ceased combat operations and remained at their previously occupied lines and positions, while also accusing Ukrainian forces of violating the ceasefire and trying to cross the border into Russia.Along the entire front line, Ukrainian units carried out 173 shelling attacks, the Defense Ministry said.A total of 488 violations of the ceasefire regime have been recorded.The deliberate destructive actions of the Ukrainian side toward Russia confirm the Kiev regimes intention to prevent a peaceful resolution of the conflict, it added, warning that its forces will respond in kind to violations.Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later on Thursdaycalled the Kremlins ceasefire a farce, saying that the Ukrainian army was responding to violations of the unilateral truce and would share information about the attacks with Kyivs allies.According to our military data, despite Putins statements, Russian forces continue to attack across the entire front line.
From midnight to midday, Russia committed 734 ceasefire violations,Sybiha wrote on X.We will not let Putin fool anyone when he does not even keep his own word, he added.Meanwhile, the Ukrainian news outlet Suspilne, citing multiple Ukrainian military units, reported that Kyiv had ordered its forces to return fire only if attacked during the May 8-10 ceasefire.Suspilnereported that similar orders were given during last months Easter ceasefire, which was also announced unilaterally by Russia.