Ukraine slams Russia’s three-day ceasefire as a “farce,” citing hundreds of violations and ongoing strikes in Sumy and eastern regions despite Moscow’s claims of peace.

Ukraine has strongly dismissed Russia’s latest unilateral ceasefire as nothing more than a “theatrical show,” following widespread reports of continued military aggression and over 700 alleged ceasefire breaches. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russian forces of 734 violations since the so-called truce began late Wednesday, stating that Ukraine is responding “appropriately” to each attack.

The ceasefire, declared unilaterally by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with Victory Day commemorations, was intended to signal a pause in hostilities. However, on the ground, violence has shown no signs of abating. Ukraine’s military spokesman, Viktor Trehubov, reported Russian military activity continuing across several eastern regions, highlighting ongoing artillery shelling, drone activity, and ground assaults.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, claims that its forces are respecting the ceasefire and instead blames Ukraine for initiating 488 violations. It maintains that all Russian units have “completely ceased combat operations” and are merely reacting in a “mirror-like manner” to attacks by Ukrainian forces.

However, the situation in regions like Sumy tells a different story. Russian strikes in the northern Sumy area reportedly killed at least one person and injured others, with emergency services working to rescue civilians trapped under rubble in Bilopillia, a town just south of the Russian border. Though Ukraine’s air force reported no missile or drone strikes overnight as of Thursday morning, there has been an uptick in Russia’s use of air-launched glide bombs in the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has outright rejected the truce, accusing Moscow of using it as a facade to protect the Victory Day military parade in Red Square, rather than a genuine peace initiative. “It is not peace, it is propaganda,” Zelensky said, calling for a more meaningful 30-day truce and denouncing Russia’s actions as part of a broader campaign to deceive the international community.

Russia’s previous attempt at a 30-hour ceasefire over Easter also unraveled amid mutual accusations of violations. Though there was a temporary lull, both Kyiv and Moscow reported hundreds of breaches, further eroding trust in any unilateral declarations of peace.

Speaking to the BBC, Ukrainian MP and soldier Sviatoslav Yurash criticized Moscow’s duplicity. “We don’t want a peace that breaks apart in no time, and Russia takes another attempt to try and kill us and destroy us,” he said. His comments echoed a sentiment widely shared in Kyiv—that any ceasefire declared by the Kremlin lacks credibility unless paired with meaningful, enforceable steps toward a lasting peace.

Sergey Sanovich, a political analyst from Stanford University, suggested the Russian truce was less about showing goodwill to Ukraine and more about signaling openness to peace talks with the United States. He pointed to Kyiv’s own wave of drone strikes as evidence that Ukraine is not interested in a “peace out of desperation,” but rather one on its own terms.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to highlight Ukraine’s use of drone warfare. Its defence ministry claimed to have downed 524 Ukrainian drones in just 24 hours—a figure that, if true, would mark a record. While there were no reported casualties, the drone activity disrupted flights across multiple Russian airports, affecting nearly 60,000 passengers.

Amid the political and military theatrics, diplomatic gestures also took center stage. On the eve of Victory Day, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, reinforcing bilateral ties with the signing of a new investment agreement. Xi praised the relationship as a stabilizing force in a turbulent world. He is among 27 leaders expected to attend the military parade in Moscow, an event Ukraine has warned may not be safe.

Ukraine’s commemoration of Victory Day stood in stark contrast. President Zelensky walked solemnly through central Kyiv, laying flowers and paying tribute to Ukrainian soldiers. “Unfortunately, three years ago, it happened again,” he said, referencing the renewed aggression, “and just like before, the air raid siren roared over Kyiv.”

As Russia gears up for its display of military power, the conflict shows no sign of resolution. With nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory under Russian control and no sign of meaningful negotiations, Ukraine’s call for a genuine, verifiable ceasefire continues to fall on deaf ears.