Russian drones strike school in northern Ukraine as ceasefire proposals go ignored

“No children were harmed,” Chaus said.

“Students attend remotely, but the attack caused damage to windows, doors, the roof, and the school’s facade.”

29 settlements in Chernihiv Oblast came under Russian attacks over the past week, he added.

On May 5, a 74-year-old woman was injured in a drone attack while tending to her household in the border village of Novhorod-Siverskyi district.

“She was hit in a drone drop while working outside, several houses were damaged or destroyed,” Chaus wrote.

On May 7, a civilian vehicle was damaged in Russian fire near Chernihiv.

Earlier on May 12, a Russian drone strike hit a civilian freight train in Donetsk Oblast, injuring the train’s engineer.

“Ceasefire proposals are being ignored," Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) commented.

"Enemy attacks on rail infrastructure and rolling stock continue.”

30-day ceasefire initiative

On May 10, French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Kyiv for talks. In a joint call with US President Donald Trump, they confirmed Ukraine’s readiness for a full ceasefire starting on May 12.

“If Russia agrees and proper monitoring is ensured, this ceasefire could be the beginning of confidence-building toward peace talks,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

UK PM Starmer warned that any Russian counter-demands will be seen as a refusal to honor the truce, adding that several countries were ready to impose additional sanctions if Moscow refused.

That same day, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin proposed direct talks in Istanbul on May 15 — but notably made no mention of the proposed 30-day ceasefire.

In an address on May 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that the ceasefire offer remained “on the table” and confirmed his readiness to meet Putin in Türkiye on May 15.
“And I expect to see Putin there. In person,” he stressed.