Ukraine says Russia hits civilians again as Kyiv derides Putin’s truce offer

Russia struck civilian areas of Ukraine with drones in another deadly nighttime attack, officials said on Tuesday.

The attack came as Kyiv officials dismissed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s declaration of a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire next week as an attempt “to deceive the United States”.

The Russian attack damaged homes in Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, authorities said, killing a 12-year-old girl and wounding three others, including a six-year-old.

Russia also launched 20 drones and 31 powerful guided bombs at Kharkiv, the second-largest Ukrainian city.

Debris from an intercepted Russian drone started a fire in a neighbourhood of the capital, Kyiv, according to officials.

Mr Putin announced on Monday the temporary ceasefire. However, he has not offered details on how the truce, which will start May 8 and last through the end of May 10, would be monitored.

It marks Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, known as Victory Day, and comes more than three years after Russia invaded its neighbour.

Russia has effectively rejected a US proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting by imposing far-reaching conditions. Ukraine has accepted it, according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Kyiv is keen to lock in crucial US military aid for the war, amid doubts about whether Europe could pick up the slack if Washington walks away.

US president Donald Trump has invested effort in trying to end the fighting, but he expressed scepticism last weekend about Mr Putin’s commitment to negotiate a peace deal amid continuing attacks on Ukraine.

He said he suspected the Russian leader could be trying to mislead him.

Ukrainian officials scoffed at Mr Putin’s ceasefire announcement.

Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said Russia is still trying to break through the around 1,000-kilometre front line while also launching long-range attacks on civilian areas.

“Putin can give the order for his forces to stop,” Mr Yermak said, “but he does not do this in the hope of deceiving everyone.”

Mr Zelensky also accused Mr Putin of trying to string along the US.

“Russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world, trying to deceive the United States,” he said.

He also said in his nightly address late Monday that the ceasefire “must be immediate, full, and unconditional — for at least 30 days to ensure it is secure and guaranteed.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Ukraine has not properly responded to Mr Putin’s announcement and accused Kyiv officials of conniving.

“I would say that not giving a direct response to such an initiative by President Putin is, rather, a manipulation,” Mr Peskov told reporters.

The Institute for the Study of War said Mr Putin likely wants to avoid the embarrassment of Ukrainian strikes on Victory Day, when foreign dignitaries will be visiting Moscow to mark the day.

The ceasefire would also offer a respite for Russian forces, the Washington-based think tank said late on Monday.

“The Kremlin continues attempts to hold legitimate ceasefire negotiations hostage in order to secure additional concessions from Ukraine and the United States,” it said.

Mr Putin previously announced a unilateral 30-hour Easter ceasefire and Ukraine voiced readiness to reciprocate any genuine truce at the time. However, each accused the other of continuous attacks.