Moscow, Kyiv renew accusations over violating Russia’s unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moscow and Kyiv on Friday renewed their accusations against each other over violating a three-day unilateral ceasefire declared by Russia in Ukraine, as the former hosted an annual military parade in its capital to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine, which began at midnight (2100GMT) on Thursday and is scheduled to last until midnight on May 11.

Ukraine rejected the ceasefire offer, instead pushing for a 30-day pause proposed by the US in March.

The ceasefire was declared in preparation for the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square earlier Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory against Nazi Germany during World War II — a conflict Russia calls the Great Patriotic War.

A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces launched four incursion attempts on its border regions of Belgorod and Kursk over the past week, as well as conducted 15 attacks on Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

“A total of 5,026 ceasefire violations have been recorded,” the statement further claimed, indicating that Russian forces are mirroring the alleged violations and will continue to act “in accordance with the current situation.”

Ukrainian authorities have not immediately commented on Russia’s claims, but made their own claims accusing Moscow of violating its own ceasefire.

Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov claimed on Telegram that Russia launched 220 strikes on eight settlements in the southeastern region over the past day, noting that a woman died in the region’s Vasylivka district.

Independent verification of Russia's and Ukraine’s claims is difficult due to the armed conflict, which has been going on for over three years.