Russia claims reciprocal strikes after ceasefire breaches by Ukraine

The Russian Ministry of Defence has said that its armed forces carried out reciprocal strikes in response to alleged violations of a temporary ceasefire by Ukrainian forces, targeting firing positions and drone command posts.

In a statement issued on May 8, the ministry said that, in line with a decision by Russia’s Supreme Commander-in-Chief and for “humanitarian reasons”, all Russian military groups in the area of the “special military operation” halted combat operations from midnight on May 8 and remained in previously held positions.

Despite the declared ceasefire, the ministry alleged that Ukrainian forces continued to carry out attacks using drones and artillery against Russian positions, as well as civilian infrastructure in border regions, including Belgorod and Kursk.

It claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted 153 artillery strikes using artillery systems, multiple launch rocket systems, mortars and tanks, alongside 887 drone-related attacks.

These, it said, included 394 FPV drone strikes, 107 octocopter-type drones, 171 fixed-wing drone attacks and 215 munitions drops from unmanned aerial vehicles.

By Aghakazim Guliyev