Even as a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is supposedly in effect until midnight on May 10-11, bombs and drones continue to fall. This 'peace,' declared by Putin in light of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Red Army's victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, is reportedly not being respected according to Ukrainian authorities.
The Ukrainian Army reported a total of 193 clashes along the entire front line on the first day of the ceasefire, according to the Kiev State Department. Most of the clashes occurred on the Pokrovsk front in the eastern Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces repelled 71 Russian attacks. Additionally, Kremlin forces used 32 aerial bombs and over 2,600 drones during the day. Ukraine also recorded nearly 4,000 instances of Russian artillery fire.
As was the case during the Easter 30-hour ceasefire declared by Moscow, Russia did halt long-distance attacks with drones and missiles, as reflected in reports from Ukrainian Army units.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that "talks with Russia and Ukraine continue" and urged both parties to strive for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire that both sides can respect.
Putin says "all" of Russia supports the offensive in Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin stated on Friday that "all" of Russia supports the offensive in Ukraine during the military parade in Red Square commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, as reported by Efe.
"The entire country, society, and people support the participants in the special military operation in Ukraine," Putin declared from the platform at a ceremony attended by over twenty foreign dignitaries. Russia "was and will be an indestructible barrier against Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism," he added.
Kallas and several European Foreign Ministers celebrate Europe Day in Ukraine
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, celebrated Europe Day on Friday with Foreign Ministers from several member countries, including Spain's José Manuel Albares, in the city of Lviv in western Ukraine. They honored fallen Ukrainians in the war with a floral tribute, as reported by Efe.
"Today, we celebrate Europe Day with Ukraine and its people. Because in a family, both joys and difficulties are shared," Kallas wrote after the first event in Lviv. "Together with the Foreign Ministers, we stand united with Ukraine for a just peace. For the future we believe in," she emphasized.
Ukraine demands the unconditional return of children abducted by Russia: "They are not negotiable"
Ukraine emphasizes that the return of tens of thousands of children illegally deported by Russia is a requirement for any peace process. "Ukrainian children are not negotiable," stated Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa in an interview with EFE.
"Any dialogue must include the unconditional return of each and every one of them," the Ukrainian diplomat stressed.
"They must be handed over to Ukraine, they must return to Ukraine before any negotiations," added the Deputy Minister in Vienna, where she participated in a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) this week. "The world's largest child abduction operation."
Ukraine announces dismantling of a Hungarian spy network operating on its territory
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested two alleged members of a spy network coordinated by Hungarian military intelligence that reported to Budapest in the Transcarpathia region, as reported by Efe.
The two agents provided information on potential reactions of the Ukrainian Army and population in this border area with Hungary to a possible deployment of Hungarian troops there.
According to the SBU statement, "the cell collected information on military security in the Transcarpathia region, sought vulnerabilities in the region's land and air defenses, and studied socio-political opinions" and their potential reaction to the entry of Hungarian troops into this region, where the majority of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine is concentrated.
Ukrainian Air Force claims Russia dropped bombs on the Sumy region
The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Friday via the Telegram messaging platform that Russian planes dropped guided bombs on the Sumy region in northern Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.
Reuters could not independently verify the bomb drops. Russia announced a three-day ceasefire starting Thursday morning, but both sides accuse each other of continuing fighting despite this.
Ukrainian drone attacks government building in Belgorod, Russia
A Ukrainian drone attacked a regional government building in the Russian city of Belgorod, as stated by local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on the Telegram messaging app on Friday. There were no casualties in the attack, Reuters reported.
Ukraine claims Russia is attacking its troops despite the ceasefire
Ukrainian armed forces reported on Friday that Russian forces had launched multiple attacks on Ukrainian frontline positions in the past 24 hours, using rockets, aerial bombs, and incursions into Ukrainian positions, according to Reuters.
Russia declared a three-day ceasefire starting Thursday morning. Both sides accused each other of continuing the fighting.
UK sanctions around 100 tankers from Putin's covert fleet
The British government will impose sanctions on around 100 tankers belonging to President Vladimir Putin's covert fleet, responsible for transporting cargo worth over $24 billion since early 2024, as reported by Efe following a statement from the government.
The new measures, to be announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) meeting in Oslo, will increase pressure on the Russian economy, which is struggling due to falling oil prices and the high costs of the war in Ukraine, the statement added.
The JEF is a defense cooperation group focused on northern Europe and the Baltic Sea, led by the UK and including Estonia, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland.