KYIV, Ukraine — Major Ukrainian cities remained quiet on Thursday morning as a Kremlin-declared cease-fire came into effect, offering a rare pause after consecutive nights of heavy Russian aerial assaults. But Ukrainian military officials reported that fighting continued along parts of the eastern front, casting doubt on the scope and sincerity of the truce.
The three-day cease-fire, announced unilaterally by Moscow to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, began at midnight Moscow time. It marks a symbolic moment for Russia, which is hosting foreign dignitaries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, in Moscow. President Vladimir V. Putin is expected to preside over a military parade on Red Square on May 9.
Ukrainian officials have not committed to honoring the cease-fire, calling it a public relations move designed to suggest that the Kremlin is interested in peace. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine reiterated Kyiv’s willingness to observe a separate, broader 30-day cease-fire, but said Russia had responded only with further strikes.
“This clearly and obviously demonstrates to everyone who the source of the war is,” Mr. Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Wednesday. “We are not withdrawing this proposal, which could give diplomacy a chance.”
While skies over Kyiv and other major cities were calm Thursday morning, Ukraine’s Air Force said Russian aircraft had launched guided bombs three times on the Sumy region in the north. Still, as of 8 a.m. local time, it reported no Russian missiles or drones in Ukrainian airspace.
Elsewhere, Ukraine’s military said combat operations had not fully halted. Viktor Trehubov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern front, told reporters that Russian ground forces continued to engage in assaults after the cease-fire officially began.
Ukraine’s general staff reported 196 clashes along the front lines in the past 24 hours, including 139 on Wednesday alone.
As Russian and foreign leaders gathered in Moscow for commemorative events, Ukraine appeared to acknowledge its recent drone strikes inside Russian territory, including several that disrupted operations at Moscow’s airports earlier this week.
The strikes came amid what Ukrainian officials describe as continued Russian escalation despite peace overtures. While Moscow claims the current cease-fire is a gesture toward stability, Kyiv remains skeptical of its intent, pointing to ongoing military actions and a broader lack of reciprocal measures.
The full impact and durability of the cease-fire remain uncertain, as both countries continue to pursue conflicting objectives in a war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
