Putin’s Ceasefire Ended at Midnight—Russian Drones Hit Ukraine Within Hours

Only hours after the end of the three-day “ceasefire” declared by Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Russian forces launched a new wave of drone attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, striking residential areas, infrastructure, and civilian facilities, according to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on May 12.

Air raid alerts spread across much of the country as Russian drones targeted Kyiv and surrounding regions, as well as Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Vinnytsia, and Kherson regions.

In the Kyiv region, a Russian drone struck a kindergarten, while in the capital, debris from a downed UAV hit a 16-story residential building, sparking a fire and injuring civilians.

According to Ukrainian officials, the attacks began almost immediately after the Kremlin’s declared ceasefire expired.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had launched more than 200 attack drones overnight, alongside over 80 guided aerial bombs and more than 30 separate air strikes along the frontline.

“Russia itself chose to end the partial silence that had lasted for several days,” Zelenskyy said.

“Overnight, more than 200 attack drones were launched against Ukraine. Aerial bombs were used again on the front – more than 80 of them, and over 30 air strikes were recorded.”

He added that residential buildings, energy infrastructure, a kindergarten, and railway infrastructure were damaged in the attacks.

“There was also a strike on an ordinary civilian locomotive on the railway,” Zelenskyy said.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens sounded shortly after 3:30 am. Ukrainian authorities said debris from intercepted drones caused a fire in a residential high-rise.

In the broader Kyiv region, emergency services released images showing severe damage to the kindergarten struck during the attack.

In Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drones hit a residential district, damaging a nine-story apartment building and several vehicles. Two men, aged 36 and 44, were reported injured. One was hospitalized with moderate injuries, while the other received outpatient treatment.

Regional officials also reported a separate strike on railway infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk region that injured a locomotive driver.

In the Kharkiv region, drones hit both civilian homes and infrastructure facilities. A drone strike on a private property in the village of Bezruky caused a fire and damaged nearby homes, while another UAV hit the roof of a residential building in Kharkiv city, injuring one civilian.

In the Chernihiv region, drone strikes damaged homes and utility buildings, while in the Zhytomyr region, authorities reported damage to vehicles, residential houses, and outbuildings.

A 68-year-old woman was reported injured in Kherson, while explosions were also heard in Zaporizhzhia and Vinnytsia regions as Ukrainian officials warned of continuing drone activity and threats from Russian tactical aviation.

Ukraine’s Air Force said additional waves of drones were still entering Ukrainian airspace from multiple directions as of Monday morning.

“We have said that we will respond in kind to all Russian steps,” Zelenskyy said.

“Russia must end this war, and it is Russia that must take the step toward a real, lasting ceasefire. Until that happens, sanctions against Moscow are necessary and must remain in place and be strengthened.”

This is not the first violation of the ceasefire that Russia declared. Earlier, Russia launched a ballistic missile and dozens of attack drones against Ukraine overnight on May 9, despite Moscow’s previously announced three-day ceasefire tied to Victory Day commemorations.

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