Russia resumes heavy strikes on Ukraine after short Kherson truce ends

Russia launched a series of intense strikes against Ukraine on Tuesday, marking a sharp escalation in the conflict after a rare pause in fighting in the southern Kherson region. The brief truce had allowed a humanitarian mission to reach the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, but the cessation of hostilities ended Sunday, leading to a renewed wave of violence that has dashed hopes for immediate peace progress in the nearly five-year war.

The overnight attacks resulted in dozens of deaths across the country and triggered widespread ballistic missile alerts. In the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, authorities reported that Russian bombing killed 29 people, including two rescue workers and four police officers. Ivan Fedorov, the head of the regional military administration, accused Moscow of targeting civilians who had gathered to receive humanitarian aid. Earlier estimates from the acting regional governor had placed the death toll at at least 26.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, a Russian strike impacted a medical facility, wounding 25 individuals and forcing approximately 200 patients to evacuate. The attack also damaged buildings, windows, and vehicles, according to Oleg Synegubov, the head of the regional military administration. Ukrainian military officials warned that ballistic missiles were heading toward Kyiv, Dnipro, and Sumy, prompting air defense systems to engage in various parts of the country.

Further damage was reported in Dnipropetrovsk, where regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha stated that critical infrastructure in Dnipro and Kryvy Rig, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelensky, was hit. Russia’s defense ministry announced that it had executed a massive strike on energy facilities and port infrastructure in the Odessa region. Meanwhile, Poland, Ukraine’s western neighbor, activated air defenses to protect its airspace, particularly in border areas.

In Russia, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that nearly 500 drones heading toward the capital region were destroyed. This counter-attack followed Russian accusations that Kyiv had sent hundreds of drones toward Moscow overnight. The exchange of fire underscores the continued intensity of the war as both sides trade blows across the front lines.

The recent violence coincides with new military and diplomatic initiatives. Britain and France announced that approximately 2,800 troops from 10 European countries will conduct military exercises in Poland this month. This multinational force, which lacks an offensive mission, is intended to be deployed only after a ceasefire is agreed upon. Simultaneously, US special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that Washington-led negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are set to resume next week, continuing President Donald Trump’s push for a settlement.

President Zelensky criticized the deadly attack on Zaporizhzhia, which he said hit a school distributing aid. He noted that the Oleshky truce offered a moment where progress toward peace seemed possible, but the killings sent an opposite signal. Zelensky argued that Russia is relying on further violence and that a response is necessary. The ceasefire had been brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump and facilitated the evacuation of people from Oleshky to both Ukrainian-controlled territory and Crimea.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Russia rejected an offer to extend the truce. The Ukrainian military also alleged that Moscow used the pause in fighting to fortify its positions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not deny these claims, describing such actions as normal practice. He noted that the Kremlin viewed the humanitarian mission as successful, praising the cooperation between Yana Lantratova, Russia’s human rights commissioner, and her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets. No other similar missions are planned at this time.