Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of breaking three-day ceasefire

Summary

Ceasefire violations

Ukraine accused Russia of breaching its ceasefire within hours, citing hundreds of attacks and calling the truce a “farce.”

Moscow parade timing

The ceasefire coincides with Russia’s Victory Day parade, prompting criticism from Ukraine that it’s a political stunt, not a peace gesture.

US and mineral aid

Ukraine ratified a U.S. mineral deal as President Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire; $50 million in U.S. defense aid is included.

Image credit: SERGEY BOBOK/AFP via Getty Images

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

Ceasefire violations

Ukraine accused Russia of breaching its ceasefire within hours, citing hundreds of attacks and calling the truce a “farce.”

Moscow parade timing

The ceasefire coincides with Russia’s Victory Day parade, prompting criticism from Ukraine that it’s a political stunt, not a peace gesture.

US and mineral aid

Ukraine ratified a U.S. mineral deal as President Trump proposed a 30-day ceasefire; $50 million in U.S. defense aid is included.

Full story

Ukraine’s government claimed Russia has repeatedly broken its three-day ceasefire, launching hundreds of attacks across the frontlines just hours after the truce began. The Russian military, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of continuing to strike inside Russian territory.

The ceasefire, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was timed to coincide with Russia’s May 9 Victory Day parade commemorating the end of World War II. Ukrainian officials described the pause as a political gesture meant for show rather than peace.

What does Ukraine say happened?

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the ceasefire a “farce” in a post on X, formerly Twitter, claiming Russian forces committed 734 violations and launched 63 assault operations between midnight and midday Thursday, with at least 23 attacks still underway at that time.

I just spoke with Ukraine's military command, who provided information about the frontline situation. Predictably, Putin's "Parade ceasefire" proves to be a farce.

According to our military data, despite Putin's statements, Russian forces continue to attack across the entire…
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 8, 2025

Ukraine’s military reported 154 separate clashes within 24 hours of the ceasefire. Ukrainian prosecutors said Russian bombs killed a woman in Sumy and wounded others in the region. Russian drones also reportedly struck a car in the Zaporizhzhia region, killing one passenger. In Poltava, a Russian missile damaged several homes.

What is Russia’s position?

Russia’s defense ministry claimed Ukrainian forces carried out 488 attacks and twice attempted to breach the border in the Kursk region. Neither side commented on the other’s battlefield claims, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the figures.

Journalists with a Ukrainian drone unit observed a Russian infantry unit attempting to advance on the front. Ukrainian troops stopped the push using drones, and multiple Russian strikes reportedly followed in the same area.

What is the purpose of the ceasefire?

The Russian ceasefire was meant to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat. Putin is hosting foreign leaders in Moscow for the May 9 Victory Day parade, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ukraine and most Western nations marked the anniversary on May 8.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the Moscow ceremony as a “parade of cynicism,” referencing continued violence along the front lines. Zelenskyy walked through central Kyiv to commemorate fallen Ukrainian soldiers, recording a selfie video as he passed by civilians on the street.

What has the US proposed?

The developments come as former U.S. President Donald Trump, now back in office, proposed a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Trump reportedly warned that the U.S. would consider additional sanctions if Russia violates the pause.

Zelenskyy confirmed he spoke with Trump by phone and said Ukraine was prepared to implement the ceasefire immediately. He also spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who expressed continued support for Ukraine.

Unbiased. Straight Facts.^TM

Ukraine’s parliament ratified a U.S. mineral agreement that includes $50 million in defense equipment, reinforcing strategic and economic ties during wartime.

What else is happening in Ukraine?

On May 8, Ukraine’s parliament unanimously ratified a new mineral resources agreement with the U.S. The Trump administration will send $50 million in U.S. defense goods to Ukraine as part of the deal.

The agreement is expected to boost Ukraine’s access to strategic materials while strengthening U.S.-Ukraine ties as the war continues. The move also reinforces economic cooperation amid ongoing attacks and military pressure from Russia.

Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor) and Devan Markham (Morning Digital Producer) contributed to this report.

Tags: Russia, Ukraine

[craig nigrelli]

RUSSIA IS MARKING EIGHTY YEARS SINCE THE DEFEAT OF NAZI GERMANY IN WORLD WAR TWO WITH A MASSIVE MILITARY PARADE AT RED SQUARE — ATTENDED BY PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND A SLEW OF FOREIGN LEADERS, INCLUDING CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING, AS WELL AS THE BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT.

UKRAINE IS ACCUSING RUSSIA OF VIOLATING ITS OWN CEASEFIRE.

THE UKRAINE FOREIGN MINISTER POSTING ON X, CALLING THE CEASEFIRE A “FARCE” AND SAYING, “RUSSIAN FORCES CONTINUE TO ATTACK ACROSS THE ENTIRE FRONTLINE, CLAIMING FROM MIDNIGHT TO MIDDAY, RUSSIA COMMITTED 734 CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS AND 63 ASSAULT OPERATIONS — 23 OF WHICH ARE STILL ONGOING.”

AT THE SAME TIME, RUSSIA CLAIMS UKRAINE HAS CARRIED OUT 488 ATTACKS ON RUSSIAN TARGETS AND TRIED TO BREAK THROUGH THE BORDER IN THE KURSK REGION TWICE.

THIS ALL COMES AS PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PROPOSING A 30-DAY **UNCONDITIONAL** CEASEFIRE IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR — AND HAS THREATENED ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA, IF THE PAUSE IN FIGHTING IS NOT RESPECTED.

ALSO, UKRAINE’S PARLIAMENT UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO RATIFY A LANDMARK MINERALS DEAL WITH THE U-S ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, WHICH INCLUDES THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SENDING 50 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEFENSE GOODS TO UKRAINE AS THE WAR WITH RUSSIA CONTINUES.

Why this story matters

The mutual accusations of ceasefire violations during Russia's declared three-day truce with Ukraine highlight ongoing hostilities, the lack of trust between the parties and the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Ceasefire breach

Repeated claims from both Ukraine and Russia regarding breaches of the ceasefire illustrate the fragile nature of temporary truces and underscore that active conflict continues despite official pronouncements.

Diplomatic impasse

Stalled negotiations and each side's rejection of the other's proposals, as described by sources including Ukrainian and Russian officials, demonstrate the difficulty of achieving a meaningful or lasting resolution.

International and political context

The ceasefire's timing to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations and the presence of foreign leaders in Moscow reflect the intersection of military, political, and symbolic considerations that shape wartime actions and international perceptions.

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Synthesized coverage insights across 257 media outlets

Behind the numbers

Multiple reports cite Ukrainian claims of 734 ceasefire violations by Russia and 63 assault operations within the first 12 hours of the truce, with Russia also accusing Ukraine of 488 violations. Civilian casualties included at least one death and several injuries in Sumy. These figures illustrate the ongoing intensity and human toll despite the declared ceasefire.

Context corner

The ceasefire was timed with Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, a major national holiday commemorating the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany. This event is deeply significant in Russia's national identity. Ukraine has moved its WWII commemoration to align with Europe, highlighting diverging historical narratives and the symbolism behind the ceasefire proposal.

Global impact

The truce coincided with Russia hosting international leaders, such as China’s Xi Jinping and Brazil’s Lula da Silva, for Victory Day. Drone strikes and flight interruptions in Russia, along with ongoing violence in Ukraine, demonstrate how the conflict’s instability impacts diplomatic events, travel, and perceptions of security for visiting dignitaries on the world stage.

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frame the ceasefire as a cynical Russian “farce,” emphasizing Putin’s bad faith through emotionally charged terms like “violating” and focusing on Ukraine’s strategic gains, such as the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, portrayed optimistically as a reconstruction milestone.
Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
Media outlets on the right highlights the ceasefire’s rapid “collapse,” often using rhetoric that questions Ukraine’s compliance—with phrases like “accused Kiev” and “hopes of securing future arms” to suggest skepticism about Ukraine’s motives—while underscoring political maneuvers around Victory Day and advocating direct negotiations.

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Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of violating its ceasefire 734 times between midnight and midday on May 8-9, 2025.
Ukrainian lawmakers unanimously ratified a minerals deal with the U.S., allowing access to Ukraine's minerals and establishing a joint investment fund for reconstruction, with 338 votes in favor.
During the ceasefire, Russian bombs struck northeast Ukraine, resulting in at least one civilian death, according to Ukrainian officials.
On the same day, Russian and Ukrainian forces reported attacks on each other, highlighting the ongoing conflict despite the ceasefire.

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Key points from the Center

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 72-hour ceasefire starting May 8 to cover Moscow's Victory Day parade on May 9, 2025.
The temporary ceasefire was declared to align with the 80th commemoration of the end of the Second World War, but Ukrainian officials denounced it as a political stunt and dismissed it as insincere.
Despite the ceasefire, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported 734 Russian violations by midday, including 63 assaults along the 1,000-kilometer front line.
On the same day, Ukraine's parliament unanimously approved a minerals agreement with the U.S., with all 338 members voting in favor, paving the way for strengthened partnership and establishing a collaborative investment fund to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The ongoing conflict reflects stalled peace efforts, distrust of Russia's ceasefire intentions, and strengthened Russia-China relations supporting Moscow's military and economic resilience.

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Key points from the Right

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire coinciding with Victory Day, which Ukraine described as a 'farce.'
Ukrainian officials reported 734 violations of the ceasefire, highlighting continued Russian attacks on the Sumy region.
Ukraine's parliament approved a minerals deal with the U.S. aimed at strengthening ties and promoting reconstruction efforts.
The international community urges direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to resolve the ongoing conflict amid military actions despite the declared truce.

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