Updated · Center for European Policy Analysis · May 21
Kremlin Kills 24 in Post-Truce Strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv, Injuring 100-plus
Updated
Updated · Center for European Policy Analysis · May 21
Kremlin Kills 24 in Post-Truce Strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv, Injuring 100-plus
2 articles · Updated · Center for European Policy Analysis · May 21
At least 24 civilians were killed and more than 100 injured after Russia launched major air assaults on Kyiv, Kharkiv and other population centers almost immediately after a short-lived ceasefire around May 9.
The report argues the strikes were not just battlefield tactics but a regime tool: escalation helps the Kremlin preserve internal cohesion, reinforce elite control and turn perceived vulnerability into displays of dominance.
Under Vladimir Putin, that pattern has repeatedly followed moments of perceived weakness, with force used in Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine and other frozen conflicts to maintain leverage rather than resolve disputes.
The analysis says this undermines Western assumptions that Moscow can be steered by conventional incentives alone, urging Europe and the US to pair diplomacy with sustained political, military and economic pressure.
If Putin’s regime needs war for internal stability, can Western pressure ever make peace a rational choice for the Kremlin?
As Russia replaces populations in occupied Ukraine, what is the endgame for restoring Ukrainian sovereignty over these lands?
Ukraine Under Siege: May 2026 Sees Record 800-Drone Russian Assaults, Ceasefire Collapse, and Escalating Civilian Crisis
Overview
In May 2026, Russian attacks across Ukraine intensified, causing significant casualties and devastating both residential areas and critical infrastructure, especially in cities like Kyiv and the Kharkiv region. These renewed assaults led to tragic losses, including children, and deepened an already dire humanitarian crisis. The emotional impact on civilians was profound, as seen when teenagers gathered to mourn victims of a recent apartment building attack in Kyiv. The situation worsened further when Russian forces targeted essential services, such as a bread delivery van in Kharkiv, highlighting the ongoing threat to daily life and the growing challenges faced by Ukrainian communities.