Victory Day Ceasefire Expires on Day 3 — Russian Attacks Kill 3, Wound 16; No Extension Announced

The US-brokered three-day ceasefire (May 9–11) expired on May 11, 2026, with both Russia and Ukraine blaming each other for violations as American and European officials weighed how to steer the warring parties into further negotiations. Russian attacks on the final day killed at least 3 civilians and wounded 16 more across Ukraine. In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 12 settlements including Kherson city, killing 2 and wounding 2. In Zaporizhzhia, 1 was killed and 2 wounded. In Kharkiv Oblast, 8 settlements were targeted including the regional capital, wounding 5. Mykolaiv saw 3 wounded; Donetsk, 4 wounded. Ukraine's General Staff recorded 180 front-line combat clashes over the 24-hour period. The Ukrainian Air Force reported Russian drone launches throughout the ceasefire period and the firing of one Iskander-M ballistic missile from Russian-occupied Crimea. There were no large-scale coordinated airstrikes — a slight moderation compared to baseline — but the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that the ceasefire 'reduced combat but did not stop it.' ISW also found that Russia used the ceasefire window to conduct troop rotations, reinforcements, redeployments, and logistics resupply — likely positioning for imminent future offensive operations. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed Ukraine committed more than 1,000 ceasefire violations; Ukraine said Russia was 'neither observing the truce nor even particularly trying to.' No extension of the ceasefire was announced as of Day 3's expiry. Negotiations on the landmark 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, a centerpiece of the ceasefire agreement, remained stalled.