Russia and Ukraine on Saturday accused each other of continuing attacks despite a three-day declared ceasefire.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that since Friday, its forces had strictly adhered to the ceasefire in the special military operation zone and maintained their defensive positions along the previously established lines. However, they reported over 8,970 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces, which included artillery shelling of Russian positions, drone strikes, and ground assaults, and additionally, Ukrainian forces targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, the Moscow region, and Belgorod region, said the ministry.
In response, Russian forces conducted retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian fire positions, command posts, and drone launch sites.
Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that since the early morning of Saturday, Russian forces had launched 51 attacks, while continuing to shell areas along the Russia-Ukraine border. Ukraine claimed that Russian forces had not ceased military operations in several areas, instead attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses, failing to comply with the ceasefire agreement.
Russia and Ukraine on Friday agreed to a three-day ceasefire and a swap of 1,000 prisoners.
"At the instruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, I confirm that U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative regarding the ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine is acceptable to the Russian side," Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
"We received Russia's agreement to conduct a prisoner exchange in the format of 1,000 for 1,000. A ceasefire regime must also be established on May 9, 10, and 11," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. He added that he had instructed the Ukrainian team to promptly prepare everything necessary for the exchange.
Separately, Zelensky signed a decree that excluded the Red Square area in Moscow from the "plan for the use of Ukrainian weapons" during the Victory Day parade on May 9 "for humanitarian purposes," according to a document published on the presidential website.
Trump said earlier Friday on Truth Social that the truce between Russia and Ukraine "will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country."
On Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that all Russian military groupings in the conflict zone would completely halt combat operations during the Victory Day celebrations from midnight on May 8 to May 10.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia had not yet received any specific proposals from Ukraine on the exchange of prisoners. Putin said that even before U.S. President Donald Trump made relevant proposals, Russia had already proposed a prisoner exchange to Ukraine and had provided a list of 500 captured Ukrainian soldiers. However, Ukraine did not respond.
Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of violating ceasefire
