Long-range Russian attacks continue to kill Ukrainians amid ceasefire
deadlock
[May 10, 2025]
By ILLIA NOVIKOV
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Two months ago, following high-level talks between
Ukrainian and American delegations in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the
United States proposed an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between Russia
and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly announced
on that same day that Ukraine was ready to accept the proposal, provided
Russia did the same.
The Russian leader balked, saying a temporary break in hostilities would
only benefit Ukraine and its Western allies by letting them replenish
their arsenals. Since then, Russia has continued its military campaign,
maintaining attacks along the roughly 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) front
line and targeting civilian infrastructure. In some cases, it has
stepped up its attacks on residential areas with no obvious military
targets.
An Associated Press tally based on reports from Ukrainian authorities
found at least 117 civilians have been killed and more than 1,000
wounded in Russian aerial attacks since Ukraine announced on March 11
its willingness for a ceasefire — all of them attacks involving
long-range drones and a variety of missiles.
The tally does not include casualties caused by short-range weapons,
including mortars, multiple launch rocket systems, S-300 and S-400
ballistic missiles, drone-dropped explosives and aerial glide bombs,
which Russia continues to use along the front line and nearby areas.
Ukrainian officials do not provide overall casualty figures nor do they
release official figures on how many Ukrainian troops have been killed
on the battlefield.
Among the deadliest attacks recently was a Russian ballistic missile
that struck in the packed center of Sumy in northeast Ukraine on a busy
Palm Sunday morning in mid-April. At least 35 people, including two
children, were killed and around 120 wounded. Another blasted a
playground in Zelenskyy's hometown, killing 20 people including nine
children.
A deadly barrage targeting the capital Kyiv prompted rare criticism from
President Donald Trump for the Russian leader.
“Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!” Trump said in a
post on his Truth Social platform.
In the past two months, Putin has twice unilaterally declared a brief
ceasefire, one for Easter and the other to mark Victory Day in World War
II. Both were repeatedly violated.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has continued to launch droves of drones at Russian
regions. This week, Russia’s Victory Day festivities were overshadowed
by reports of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and triggering
severe disruptions at the capital’s airports, as well as cellphone
internet outages amid jamming aimed at foiling more potential attacks.
Here’s a look at some of the deadliest attacks by Russian troops
targeting Ukraine since March, 11:
[to top of second column]
|
A man cries at the trolleybus after a Russian missile strike on
Sumy, Ukraine, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Volodymyr Hordiienko, file)
March 24: A Russian missile hit a densely populated area of Sumy,
damaging 30 residential buildings and a school. Local authorities said
101 people were wounded, including 23 children.
April 3: Russian forces launch Shahed drones at a residential
neighborhood in Ukraine’s second largest city of Kharkiv. Regional
officials reported five people killed and 34 others wounded. Among the
victims was an entire family, including their 12-year-old daughter.
April 4: Russian forces carry out a combined missile and drone attack on
a residential area in Kryvyi Rih that blasted a playground. According to
local authorities, 20 people were killed, including nine children, and
74 others were wounded. The assault damaged more than 60 apartment
buildings and private homes.
April 13: On a busy Palm Sunday morning, a Russian ballistic missile
strikes Sumy city center filled with civilians, killing 35 people,
including two children, and wounding 119. It was one of the deadliest
attacks on Ukrainian civilians this year. The next day, Russia said it
targeted a gathering of senior Ukrainian military officers. Putin later
admitted it was a “civilian facility” but claimed it hosted an award
ceremony for Ukrainian troops.
April 18: Three Russian cluster munitions struck Kharkiv, killing one
man and wounding 113 people, including nine children. The strikes that
happened during early morning hours could have potentially led to much
higher casualty rates if conducted an hour later, city authorities said.
April 24: Russia struck Ukraine's capital Kyiv with an hourslong barrage
of missiles and drones. At least 12 people were killed and 90 were hurt
in the deadliest assault on the city since last July. In total, Russia
launched 145 Shahed drones and 70 missiles in a single night over
Ukraine.
April 29: At least 16 Russian Shahed drones struck Kharkiv, wounding 47
people, including two children and a pregnant woman. The city’s mayor
reported direct hits on residential buildings and a medical facility.
May 2: Drones targeted at least four districts of Kharkiv city, injuring
47 people. One child was among the wounded.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
