Overview
- Ukraine’s “regime of silence,” which began at midnight Wednesday, was followed within minutes by Russian drone and bomb strikes on several regions, according to Ukraine’s Air Force and local media.
- Following Tuesday’s deadly barrages, Ukrainian officials reported at least 22 people killed and more than 80 wounded in strikes on Kramatorsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and other cities.
- Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire for May 8–9 to mark Victory Day and warned it would launch a massive retaliatory missile strike on central Kyiv if its events were targeted.
- Ukraine has continued deep strikes inside Russia, with independent outlet ASTRA verifying damage at the VNIIR‑Progress defense plant in Cheboksary and local officials reporting a fire after drones hit the Kirishi oil facility.
- Russian authorities tightened domestic security for the holiday, halting flights at Moscow airports under Plan Kover and citing dozens of civilian casualties from Ukrainian attacks in border regions.