Ukraine Reports 147 Combat Engagements as Russia Violates Holiday Ceasefire

Despite a high-profile humanitarian ceasefire brokered for May 9–11, the Ukrainian General Staff reported 147 combat engagements on the truce’s opening day. Russian forces reportedly launched over 7,000 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,000 shelling attacks, resulting in civilian deaths in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Combat was most intense in the Pokrovsk and Kupiansk directions, while Ukrainian forces reported the neutralization of 840 Russian soldiers and 75 artillery systems amid the ongoing violations.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported 147 combat engagements on the first day of the May ceasefire. Russian forces used more than 7,000 kamikaze drones and carried out over 2,000 shelling attacks on Ukrainian settlements and positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

On May 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced an agreed ceasefire for the period from May 9 to 11 though the ceasefire was breached by Russia on the first day. Russian forces attacked AFU positions in several sectors and carried out deadly drone strikes across Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

In the North-Slobozhansky direction and near Kursk, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian settlements and troop positions. Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions also took place in the following directions: Kupiansk, Lyman, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, Oleksandrivsk, and Hulyaipole.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, 840 Russian soldiers were neutralized, along with several pieces of Russian military equipment, including 75 artillery systems.