The week of May 5-11, 2025, was marked by intense Russian shelling of Ukrainian territories, resulting in numerous casualties among the civilian population and significant damage to infrastructure. Border areas and large cities were the most affected. Ukrainian air defense forces continue to work actively to destroy enemy targets, but the threat of new attacks remains high.
Despite Russia's announcement of a “three-day truce” from May 8 to 11, 2025, hostilities on the territory of Ukraine did not cease. Russian troops continued to attack civilian objects and positions of Ukrainian forces, particularly in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions.
Sumy region: Over the course of a week, the region was subjected to more than 100 attacks, including strikes with guided bombs and FPV drones. In particular, on May 6, 110 attacks were recorded on 36 settlements, killing four people and injuring 14 others.
Kharkiv region: Russian troops carried out numerous attacks, including shelling Kharkiv with strike drones on May 6, causing a fire in the Kyiv district of the city.
Dnipropetrovsk region: From the evening of May 5 to the morning of May 6, the Russian army attacked five communities in the region, damaging infrastructure and injuring one man.
Kyiv region: On the night of May 7, the Russians attacked the region with drones and missiles, killing two people.
Kherson region: The region was subjected to numerous shelling attacks during the week. Kherson is under daily fire from enemy artillery and FPV drones. In particular, on May 5, the Russian army shelled the village of Bilozerka with mortars, damaging buildings.
Russian attack on Kyiv through the lens of Pavel Petrov
On the night of May 7, Russia launched a massive attack on Kyiv, despite the Kremlin's earlier announcement of a “three-day truce” to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II. The first air raid siren sounded in the capital at 00:58, the second at 4:00, and the third at 6:20. As of the morning, two people were reported dead and eight injured, including four children.
Consequences of the attack: casualties and destruction
That night, Russia attacked Kyiv with ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the city and the work of air defense forces. In the Shevchenkivskyi district, debris from a downed drone hit a five-story residential building, causing a fire on two floors. Rescuers found the bodies of two people who had been killed — a mother and her son, born in 1960 and 1997.
The head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, Timur Tkachenko, confirmed the death of two people and the injury of eight, including four children. Four of the injured are in hospital, including three children.
In the Svyatoshinsky district, debris from a drone fell on a nine-story building, causing a fire on the upper floors. Rescuers evacuated five people, including four children, three of whom were hospitalized with burns.
In the Solomyanskyi district, debris from a drone fell on an open area, injuring one person. There are also reports of rocket debris hitting non-residential infrastructure, injuring another person.
In the Dniprovskyi district, debris fell on a high-rise building, partially destroying the floors on the 29th and 30th floors. No fires were reported and there were no casualties.
In the Holosiivskyi district, debris from a downed drone damaged the roof of an office business center. There was no fire, and information about the victims is being clarified.
State Emergency Service photographer Pavlo Petrov captured the aftermath of the Russian attack on the capital. The photos show destroyed apartments and charred remains of furniture on the upper floors of the building. Petrov also documented how rescuers evacuated children.
The Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into war crimes that resulted in the death of people (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Ceasefire from May 12?
On May 11, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Russians had begun to consider a truce, stating: “It is a good sign that the Russians are finally thinking about ending the war. Everyone in the world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the first step in the real end of any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killings, even for a day. We expect Russia to confirm a ceasefire — complete, lasting, and reliable — starting tomorrow, May 12, and Ukraine is ready to meet.”
Contributors:
Researcher and author: Vira Labych
Image editor: Olga Kovaleva
Literary editor: Yulia Futey
Website manager: Vladislav Kukhar
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