Fresh Russian strikes killed at least 28 people across Ukraine just hours before a unilateral ceasefire announced by Kyiv was due to take effect on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said, underscoring the fragility of truce efforts in the ongoing war.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko reported widespread attacks late Tuesday across multiple regions, including Poltava, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, with more than 120 people wounded. One additional fatality was later confirmed in Kramatorsk, raising the death toll.

In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, at least 12 people were killed, while six died in Kramatorsk after strikes hit the city centre, according to local authorities. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as having “no military justification” and accused Moscow of “utter cynicism” for continuing assaults while calling for a pause in fighting.

According to AFP, Ukrainian officials said Russia also targeted infrastructure in the Zaporizhzhia region early Wednesday, while no immediate reports of Ukrainian strikes emerged from Russian authorities during the initial hours of the proposed truce.

The escalation came as both Kyiv and Moscow announced separate ceasefire plans tied to different dates, with Russia pushing for a halt around its May 9 Victory Day commemorations.

Despite intermittent ceasefire proposals, fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with Ukraine stepping up long-range drone strikes on Russian territory, including energy facilities and sites in Moscow. Kyiv says the attacks are retaliation for persistent Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Diplomatic efforts remain stalled, although US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call Tuesday to discuss the conflict, according to official statements.

There is little indication of a breakthrough, as Russia continues to demand Ukraine withdraw from occupied territories and abandon Western military support conditions Kyiv has firmly rejected.

BOB Post