KYIV — After Russia broke the ceasefire Ukraine had declared for Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv considers itself freed from the unilateral truce declared by the Kremlin ahead of Saturday's Victory Day parade in Moscow.
“We can confirm that the Russian side has derailed the ceasefire regime,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Wednesday morning, adding that Ukraine will decide on further actions in the evening.
Earlier this week, Russia and Ukraine proclaimed rival ceasefires and promised retaliation for any violations.
First, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a ceasefire on Friday and Saturday for the scaled-down World War II Victory Day parade in Moscow. The commemoration — which until this year featured masses of heavy equipment, but is now planned to have only marching troops — is a key event for the Kremlin.
Moscow vowed a devastating response if Ukraine targets the parade. "Should the Kyiv regime attempt to carry out its criminal plans to disrupt the celebration of the 81st anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, the armed forces of the Russian Federation will launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the center of Kyiv," the ministry said.
In response, Zelenskyy said the Kremlin is scared Ukrainian drones might disrupt the Moscow parade. He added that Moscow has not officially asked Kyiv for a ceasefire. He followed up with a rival truce proposal for Tuesday and Wednesday, and urged Russia to stick to it if it wants to hold its ceremony safely.
"Ukraine clearly stated that it would act in kind, taking into account Russia’s persistent appeals through the media and social networks asking for a ceasefire during the Moscow parade," Zelenskyy said on Wednesday, adding that the "daily murdering of people" isn't conducive to public celebrations like Moscow's parade.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of committing 1,820 violations of the ceasefire — shelling, ground assaults and air attacks.
The Russian defense ministry confirmed multiple attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday, and also accused Ukrainian forces of hitting targets in Russia as well as in occupied Crimea.
