Zelensky to answer for killing Russians in Crimea right before ceasefire — lawmaker

Lead

New tensions have erupted over a ceasefire declared by both Russia and Ukraine, with Russian officials accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of responsibility for a deadly attack on Crimea that occurred just before the truce took effect. Reports from Russian state news agency TASS detail that Ukrainian forces struck the city of Dzhankoy in northern Crimea overnight, killing five civilians, according to Crimean Governor Sergey Aksyonov.

The attack came just 30 minutes before Ukraine's declared ceasefire was set to begin at midnight on May 6, a pause that Kyiv announced in response to Russia's own ceasefire declaration for May 8-9, commemorating the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. Russian officials have responded with strong condemnations and warnings of potential retaliation, while Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the incident.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this incident comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which has published multiple articles featuring statements from various Russian officials and lawmakers. While the accounts are consistent in their core assertions, they differ in focus and attributions.

One TASS report highlights remarks from First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, who argued that the Kyiv regime is not ready for a ceasefire and is provoking Russia with strikes on civilian targets. Another report quotes State Duma lawmaker Mikhail Sheremet, representing Crimea, who described the attack as evidence of Ukraine's disinterest in peace talks.

A third article features lawmaker Leonid Ivlev, who directly called for Zelensky to be held responsible for the killings. Other reports incorporate commentary from Irish journalist Chay Bowes, who wrote on X that "Ukraine spits on the May 9 ceasefire," and from Natalya Nikonorova, deputy head of the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs, who accused Ukrainian forces of attacking civilian infrastructure.

Notably, the reports also mention a strike on Cheboksary, which some sources attribute to Ukraine, and an incident where a TASS photojournalist was reportedly hit by a drone in the Zaporozhye Region. However, these details are not uniformly addressed across all articles, and some claims appear only in specific reports.

Key Claims

Across the TASS reports, several claims are repeated consistently. Russia declared a ceasefire for May 8-9 to honor the Soviet victory in World War II, as announced by the Russian Defense Ministry. In response, Ukraine declared its own ceasefire to begin at midnight on May 6. Ukrainian forces attacked Dzhankoy, killing five civilians, as reported by Aksyonov. Russia expects Ukraine to follow its ceasefire example.

Additional claims include a warning that if Ukraine attempts to strike Moscow on May 9 to disrupt celebrations, Russian forces will launch a massive retaliatory strike on central Kiev. The Defense Ministry reportedly stated that Russia had previously refrained from such strikes for humanitarian reasons, despite having the capability.

Perspectives

Russian Officials

Russian officials uniformly condemn the attack on Dzhankoy as a provocation and evidence of Ukrainian aggression. Dzhabarov characterized it as part of a pattern of strikes on civilian targets, suggesting that negotiations would be "death" for the Kyiv regime. Sheremet called it a "bloody crime" and accused Ukrainian "neo-Nazis" of unwillingness to engage in peaceful dialogue. Ivlev directly linked the attack to Zelensky's ceasefire declaration, questioning the value of his words.

External Commentary

Irish journalist Chay Bowes, cited by TASS, accused Ukraine of disregarding the ceasefire, describing the attack as a refusal to observe the truce. He also noted that Kyiv blamed Russia for violations, though this counter-claim is not detailed in the provided material.

Western Actions

Some Russian officials, including Slutsky and Karchaa, allege that the West remains silent about Ukrainian actions and that Western countries are encouraging Kyiv to continue the conflict. Karchaa argued that Zelensky is merely following the commands of "collective West" and that Ukrainian people are "expendable material." These claims are presented as opinions of the officials, not as independently verified facts.

Context and Unverified Claims

The attack on Dzhankoy and the ceasefire declarations are reported consistently across multiple TASS articles, making them the most substantiated elements of this story. However, the broader narrative—including alleged strikes on Cheboksary and the downing of a drone on a photographer—relies on single-source reporting from TASS and has not been independently verified by other news outlets.

The threat of a massive retaliatory strike on central Kiev, attributed to the Russian Defense Ministry, is a significant statement that carries potential geopolitical consequences. It is reported by all TASS articles but has not been confirmed by Ukrainian or other international sources yet.

As of this report, there has been no public response from Ukrainian authorities or Western governments to the incident or the Russian accusations. The situation remains fluid, and further details are expected to emerge.

This article is based on reporting from TASS, the Russian state news agency, and may reflect official Russian perspectives. Independent verification of the events described is ongoing.