The first night of the ceasefire unilaterally ordered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy led to a reduction in attacks, according to reports from both sides, Abendzeitung München reports. The Russian Defence Ministry told Russian agencies that 53 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russian territory and the annexed Crimean peninsula during the night—significantly fewer than recently. It was unclear whether these shootdowns occurred before or after the start of the ceasefire declared by Ukraine. The Russian ministry specified the period as between 21:00 and 07:00 local time (20:00 and 06:00 Central European Summer Time, CEST).
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the intensity of Russian air strikes on Ukraine also fell slightly based on initial information. At the same time, the Ukrainian Air Force continued to report attacks: in the morning it said that since Tuesday 18:00 (17:00 CEST) Russia had struck with three missiles and 108 drones, of which 89 were intercepted. The night before, the Ukrainian Air Force had counted attacks involving eleven ballistic missiles and 164 drones. There were also reports that after the start of the ceasefire announced by Zelenskyy, drones flew toward, among other places, Kharkiv.
Zelenskyy set the start of his unilateral ceasefire at 00:00 local time on Wednesday (Tuesday 23:00 CEST). According to Kyiv, Presidential Office head Kyrylo Budanov said the Ukrainian pause in fighting is open-ended as long as Russia does not attack: "If the ceasefire is observed mutually, then we will continue it." Zelenskyy also announced that Ukraine would mirror any response if the Russian side did not respect the agreement.
Moscow took a different, short-term approach: Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin ordered a limited ceasefire only for Friday and Saturday, coinciding with commemorations of the Soviet victory in World War II. A military parade on Red Square is planned in Moscow for May 9. Zelenskyy’s announcement of an earlier ceasefire was initially not commented on in Moscow.
Both sides are also using their ceasefire statements in international discussions. Abendzeitung München reports that US Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone at the end of April about a possible ceasefire for the May 9 commemorations. Kyiv has repeatedly called for a lasting ceasefire linked to a peace settlement with security guarantees for Ukraine; Moscow rejects longer truces and continues to pursue its military objectives.
Abendzeitung München reports that concrete negotiations on a peace solution are currently on hold; one reason cited is that US leadership and Trump are distracted by the conflict in Iran.
Source: Stadt München
