Ukraine Says Russian Attacks Continued After Start of Proposed Truce

The Ukrainian authorities said Russian attacks against Ukraine continued on May 12, including an overnight assault using more than 100 drones, despite a ceasefire proposed by Europe and Ukraine that Russia did not agree to abide by.

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KYIV -

The leaders of four European powers traveled to Kyiv on May 10 and demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from May 12. Russian President Vladimir Putin, implicitly rejecting the offer, instead proposed direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul that he said could potentially lead to a ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on May 11 that the ceasefire offer remained on the table and that he was still waiting for a response from Moscow, but that Ukrainian forces would respond in kind if Russia flouted it.

The air force said in its morning readout that Ukraine came under attack overnight from 108 long-range combat drones starting from 11 pm local time, an hour before the ceasefire was due to kick in. Attacks of this kind unfold over the course of hours, as drones fly much slower than missiles.

"As at 8.30 a.m., it was confirmed that 55 Shahed attack (drones)... were shot down in the east, north, south and center of the country," it said, adding that an additional 30 had been lost on radars and caused no damage.