As the Victory Day ceasefire declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin enters its third and final day, reports of continued Russian attacks in Ukraine highlight the fragility of the truce. In the northern Sumy region, an 85-year-old woman lost her life, and three others were injured as 19 residential homes and 10 additional buildings were damaged or destroyed, according to Ukrainian police.
In the eastern Donetsk region, the town of Kostyantynivka was hit, injuring one person and setting two apartment blocks ablaze. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS) reported that rescue workers who arrived at the scene were targeted by subsequent “double tap” strikes—deliberate secondary attacks aimed at first responders. In the southern city of Kherson, a 58-year-old man was injured by an explosive-laden Russian drone, according to local authorities.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude toward the United Kingdom for its newly announced sanctions targeting Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of oil tankers used to circumvent energy export restrictions. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled the sanctions on Thursday, drawing praise from Zelensky, who said in a social media post that every measure to curb the Kremlin’s war financing brings peace closer.
A high-level meeting between European leaders took place today at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv. Attending were France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Alongside Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska, they paid tribute at Kyiv’s Independence Square to honor victims of the war. In a joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed their readiness to support potential peace talks.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated its position through spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, stating that arms deliveries to Ukraine must cease before any ceasefire agreement can be genuinely discussed. Speaking to ABC News, Peskov claimed that Ukraine continues full-scale mobilization and is not prepared for negotiations, while Putin remains open to a “peaceful and diplomatic” resolution.
As Kyiv welcomed European solidarity, Moscow celebrated Victory Day with a grand parade in Red Square. The presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping was the highlight, emphasizing deepening Russia-China ties in the face of what they call the “collective West.” Putin and Xi held two rounds of talks before the event and discussed the Ukraine war informally. Also attending were leaders from Brazil, Venezuela, and Serbia, with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico being the only EU head of state present in Moscow.
