Putin rejects the ceasefire proposal and attacks civilian infrastructure in Ukraine – Zelenskyy
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that on the night of March 19, 2025, the Russian Federation launched a massive kamikaze drone attack, hitting civilian infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine. In particular, a direct hit on a hospital in Sumy was recorded, as well as strikes on cities in the Donetsk region.
According to the president, about 40 Russian strike drones were recorded in the Ukrainian night sky, some of which reached their targets.
“Unfortunately, there are hits, and precisely on civilian infrastructure. A direct hit by a “Shahed” drone on a hospital in Sumy, strikes on cities in the Donetsk region, and strike drones right now in the skies of Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy regions,” the President wrote.
He pointed out that these night attacks by Russia have been destroying the Ukrainian energy system, our infrastructure, and “the normal life of Ukrainians”.
He called on countries to continue to put pressure on Russia for the sake of peace.
Zelenskyy emphasized that such actions by the Kremlin are a response to international peace initiatives and demonstrate Russia’s unwillingness to end the war.
“Today, Putin has effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire,” Zelenskyy stressed.
The President called on the international community to respond to Russian shelling with new sanctions, increased military aid, and stronger security guarantees for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russians attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, four S-300 surface-to-air missiles, 145 Shahed attack UAVs, and decoy drones of various types on the night of 18-19 March. Ukraine’s air defence has downed 72 attack drones, while 45 drones targeted the Kyiv Oblast.
According to the statement by the Ukrainian Air Force, the targets were launched from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Oryol, Shatalovo, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.
As of 08:00, 72 Shahed attack UAVs and other types of drones have been confirmed downed in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Odesa oblasts.
A total of 56 Russian decoy drones disappeared from radar (without causing adverse effects).
Ukraine urges the international community to unite to restore global security under the UN Charter and strengthen sanctions against Russia to enforce compliance with international law. Following Russia’s initial invasion in 2014, Ukraine has pursued the liberation of its territories within its internationally recognised 1991 borders while developing comprehensive reintegration strategies and policies for all liberated areas.
Earlier, Bohdan Bernatskyy, a member of the Sanctions Policy Working Group of the Crimean Platform Expert Network, revealed at the Third Parliamentary Summit in Latvia that over 1,300 Russian military companies and 2 million industry workers continue operating, many without international restrictions.
