Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv reports fresh Russian missile and drone strikes despite unilateral ceasefire

Ukraine says Russia has continued to conduct airstrikes in the early hours of today despite Kyiv’s own unilateral ceasefire taking effect.

“According to preliminary data, as of 8am, air defences shot down/suppressed 89 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas type and Parody simulator drones in the north and east of the country,” the Ukrainian Air Force said on its Telegram channel in the early hours.

It said hits from two ballistic missiles, one guided aircraft missile and nine attack UAVs were recorded at eight locations.

It warned that the attack continues as there are “several enemy UAVs in the airspace”.

The US ​state department ‌has approved the potential sale ​of guided bomb kits and ​related equipment to Ukraine worth $373.6m, ​it said in a ‌statement ⁠yesterday.

The proposed package includes extended range Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) systems.

The JDAM system converts standard unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions that can operate in all weather conditions.

It works with an integrated inertial navigation system combined with GPS for high accuracy.

In the extended-range version, the JDAM kit allows the bombs to glide toward targets from a distance.

Ukraine has requested 1,200 KMU-572 JDAM tail kits and 332 KMU-556 JDAM tail kits, along with fuze systems and a range of support equipment, logistics, and technical services, according to a State Department statement. The main contractor for the deal will be Boeing, it said.

“The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it with more capable air defence systems to conduct self-defence and regional security missions,” the state department said.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke ​with ⁠Russian foreign ⁠minister Sergei Lavrov ​at ⁠Lavrov’s ‌request, the State Department ‌said in a ‌statement.

The pair discussed the US-Russia relationship, the Russia-Ukraine war, ‌and ​Iran, the State Department said.

The 35 new measures, announced on Tuesday, aim to dismantle operations that reportedly trick people from countries including Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen with false promises of a better life, only to send them directly to the battlefield.

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty condemned the practice as “barbaric,” accusing Russia of “exploiting vulnerable people” and using them as “cannon fodder”.

The US State ⁠Department approved the potential sale of ⁠Joint ​Direct ⁠Attack Munitions – Extended ⁠Range ​and related ⁠equipment ‌to Ukraine for $373.6 million, it ‌said in ‌a statement ⁠on Tuesday.

The principal contractor will be Boeing Company, ‌the State Department ​added.

Russian attacks throughout eastern Ukraine killed at least 27 people on Tuesday, including 12 in one of the worst strikes so far this year, hours before the midnight deadline for a ceasefire proposed by Kyiv.

Russia has announced its own ceasefire for 8 and 9 May to coincide with commemorations of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War, including a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square.

Ukraine, in response, announced a proposal for an open-ended ceasefire starting at midnight on Wednesday (2100 GMT), urging Russia to reciprocate.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was not an option for Russia to halt strikes for one day for its military parade after days of bombarding Ukraine.

Ukrainian ⁠foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, writing in English on X, said: “With mere hours until Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal comes into force, Russia shows no signs of preparing to end hostilities. On the contrary, Moscow intensifies terror.”

World affairs editor Sam Kiley meets the founder of Ukraine’s ultranationalist Azov movement, Andrii Biletskyi, now a decorated military brigadier general holding Russia back on its most aggressive line of attack in Donetsk province.

Opponents of President Vladimir Putin suggest these measures are an attempt to bolster domestic control following four years of conflict.

The US State ⁠Department approved the potential sale of ⁠Joint ​Direct ⁠Attack Munitions – Extended ⁠Range ​and related ⁠equipment ‌to Ukraine for $373.6 million, it ‌said in ‌a statement ⁠on Tuesday.

The principal contractor will be Boeing Company, ‌the State Department ​added.