Russians are pushing towards the border of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts

Russian forces have significantly escalated operations on the Novopavlivka front, engaging in 23 combat clashes in a single day, Ukrainian military spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said on April 28. The enemy is pushing toward the tri-border area of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk oblasts.

On the Orikhiv front, fighting remains intense near Mali Shcherbaky, Lobkove, and Stepove. Russia is attempting to breach the line and seize a bridgehead, which could allow it to target key Ukrainian logistics routes and potentially strike Zaporizhzhia directly.

In the south, the situation has also worsened on the Prydniprovske (Kherson) front. Russian troops have increased efforts to land forces on Dnipro River islands. While most Russian watercraft are intercepted, some troops manage to land and are resupplied by drone. Voloshyn noted some Russian soldiers have surrendered after being stranded for days.

He also warned of Russia’s “double-tap” tactics in Kherson — launching guided aerial bomb attacks followed by artillery and drone strikes targeting rescue teams.

“First, they bomb, then they hit the emergency crews arriving at the scene,” Voloshyn said. “This vile tactic has been used several times in recent days.”

Kremlin hints Russia won't agree to 30-day truce

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested Russia is unlikely to agree to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Yes, we’ve seen it,” Peskov told TASS, referring to the proposal. “But without answers to the nuances President Putin mentioned, it’s hard to move forward with a long-term truce.” He did not specify what those “nuances” were.

Peskov noted Putin had already declared a temporary three-day ceasefire from May 8–11 to mark Victory Day but claimed Kyiv had not responded to the offer. He framed it as a “gesture of goodwill” and questioned whether Ukraine would join it.

12-year-old schoolgirl killed in Russian UAV attack on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

A 12-year-old girl, Marharyta Titarenko, was killed in a Russian drone attack on the Hubynykha hromada in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast overnight on April 28–29. A UAV struck her family’s home while she was sleeping on the first floor. Her parents and six-year-old sister, who were on the second floor, were injured and hospitalized.

Marharyta was a student at a local lyceum, known for her talent in singing, dancing, and mathematics. Her grandmother said she was still alive when rescuers pulled her from the rubble but succumbed to her injuries.

"What could that child have been guilty of?" her grandmother Mariia said. "She was quiet that day, as if she felt something."

UK Defence Intelligence analyses Putin's announcement of 9 May ceasefire

The UK Defence Intelligence believes Russia’s three-day ceasefire, announced by Vladimir Putin for May 8–10 to mark Victory Day, is a strategic move meant to present Russia as open to talks while avoiding harm to its front-line positions.

According to a 29 April update, the UK assesses the ceasefire—like Putin’s earlier 30-hour Easter truce—as a symbolic gesture with minimal cost, intended to limit the risk of Ukrainian long-range strikes, especially during national commemorations. The announcement follows Ukraine’s call for a full 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

The UK also noted that many Russian cities have canceled Victory Day events in recent years due to security concerns.