Russia ‘violates’ Ukraine’s ceasefire offer, killing 27 in air strikes & ‘paranoid’ Putin bans staff from using phones amid assassination fears

Day 1,532.

Today, Vladimir Putin gives his answer to President Zelensky’s offer of an open-ended ceasefire: a brutal attack on the civilians of Ukraine which killed 20, including 12 in a single strike. What does this mean for the likelihood of a ceasefire over May 8 and 9th for Moscow’s Victory Day parade? Then we hear the latest from Kyiv, and hear the latest from Russia, including how Putin has banned staff from using phones amid assassination fears.

Contributors:

Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.

James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.

With thanks to freelance journalist Antonia Langford in Kyiv.

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As Ukraine strikes deeper inside Russia, Putin retreats further into paranoia (Antonia Langford in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/05/paranoid-putin-cornered-ukrain-morphing-deep-strike-tactics/

Putin bans staff from using phones amid assassination fears (Antonia Langford in The Telegraph):

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/04/putin-bans-staff-using-phones-assassination-fears/

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HIGHLIGHTS:

• Vladimir Putin gives his answer to President Zelensky’s ceasefire offer
• A brutal attack on the civilians of Ukraine kills 20, including 12 in a single strike

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