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Russian attacks kill more than 20 ahead of rival ceasefires proposed by Kyiv and Moscow
On May 5, 2026, Russian attacks across Ukraine killed more than 20 people ahead of unilateral ceasefire proposals by Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine conducted strikes inside Russia while both sides announced ceasefires that were not negotiated, in the run-up to Victory Day on May 9. The events included drone and air attacks, defensive downings, and heightened security measures in Russia.
Why It Matters
The violence underscores the fragility of unilateral ceasefire offers and the risk of escalation around Victory Day, amid deepening drone warfare and negotiations that remain non-binding without reciprocal terms.
Timeline
9 Events
Kyiv open-ended ceasefire from midnight May 6 announced
May 5, 2026
Kyiv announced it would observe an open-ended ceasefire from midnight on May 6, and that Ukraine would act 'symmetrically' from that point on. The two ceasefires are described as unilateral and not yet agreed upon by both sides.
Budanov on ceasefire reciprocity and diplomacy
May 5, 2026
Zelensky's chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov said that if the Ukrainian ceasefire announced by the president was reciprocated, 'we will continue to observe it... The next move is Russia's'.
Victory Day preparations; parade scaled down and internet disruptions anticipated
May 5, 2026
The Kremlin signalled nervousness ahead of Victory Day; the centrepiece event—a grand military parade on Red Square—would be scaled down due to the 'terrorist threat' from Ukraine, and that mobile internet access would be disrupted or cut off for several days in the lead-up to 9 May.
Airports closed; drones downed near Moscow
May 5, 2026
On Tuesday morning, several airports across Russia were temporarily shut. Later, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that a number of drones had been downed near the capital.
Russian defence ministry downed Flamingos and drones
May 5, 2026
The Russian defence ministry later confirmed it had downed six Ukrainian Flamingos as well as 601 drones.
Ukraine strikes in Russia: Kirishi and Cheboksary targets; Flamingo missiles used
May 5, 2026
Ahead of Ukraine's midnight ceasefire on May 6, Kyiv launched aerial attacks on Russia, hitting an industrial area in Kirishi in the Leningrad region and a factory that produces military components in Cheboksary, in the Chuvash Republic. Zelensky said domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles were used to strike the Cheboksary factory; a nighttime video showed a fast-moving object and a large explosion.
Casualties reported across Ukraine and drone attack in Chuvash Republic
May 5, 2026
Zaporizhzhia authorities said 12 people were killed in a Russian aerial attack, described by Zelenskiy as a 'cynical terrorist strike'. He said five people were killed in Kramatorsk and four in Dnipro. In the Chuvash Republic, authorities said two people were killed and 32 injured in a drone attack on Tuesday morning.
Monday morning drone attack with high-rise hit in Moscow
May 4, 2026
Ukraine has stepped up deep-strike drone attacks; on Monday morning a high-rise in central Moscow was hit.
Monday ceasefire declarations ahead of Victory Day commemorations
May 4, 2026
On Monday, Russia and Ukraine declared unilateral ceasefires ahead of commemorations for Victory Day on Saturday, May 9. Russia said it would observe a ceasefire on May 8-9 and warned of a massive missile strike on central Kyiv if Ukraine violated the truce. Kyiv announced it would observe an open-ended ceasefire from midnight on May 6, and that Ukraine would act 'symmetrically' from that point.