Ukraine promises 'mirror responses' after Moscow bombs infrastructure ahead of May 9
The aftermath of Russian strike on Kyiv Oblast, May 5, 2026 (Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official)
The overnight Russian strike on Ukraine while Moscow asks for a truce to hold its May 9 parade is "absolute cynicism," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on May 5.
"It is absolute cynicism to ask for silence to hold propaganda celebrations and to launch such missile and drone strikes on all the days leading up to it," the head of state highlighted.
Zelenskyy announced "mirror responses" to the Russian attacks on Ukraine.
"Russia can cease fire any day, and this will stop the war and our responses," he noted.
"Peace is needed, and real steps are required for this. Ukraine will act in a mirror manner."
The main targets of Russia overnight on May 5 were Ukraine's energy infrastructure facilities, according to him.
In Poltava Oblast, in particular, the Russians "very vilely struck repeatedly with a missile when State Emergency Service workers were already on-site extinguishing the fire."
Among other Russian targets that night:
Kharkiv Oblast: one person killed, four injured
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: critical infrastructure was attacked, power lines were damaged in Pavlohrad, thousands of families were left without electricity, three injured
Zaporizhzhya and Kyiv oblasts: suffered strikes, three people injured.
Russian Defense Ministry announced on the evening of May 4 that a "ceasefire is declared" for May 8 and 9, and threatened massive strikes on the center of Kyiv if Ukraine tries to "disrupt the Victory Day celebrations." The department cynically stated that it had supposedly "refrained" from striking central Kyiv "for humanitarian reasons" earlier.
In response, Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine had not received any official requests for a ceasefire but is declaring a regime of silence from midnight on the night of May 5 to May 6.
The head of state earlier said that Ukrainian drones could appear over the May 9 parade in Moscow.
The May 9 parade on Red Square in Moscow will take place without military equipment for the first time since 2022, featuring only a marching column. The number of guests will decrease to a few hundred people instead of the usual thousands, and the parade itself will last less than an hour.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
