Russia resumes Kherson strikes after temporary ceasefire expires

Russian forces resumed attacks on the Kherson region in southern Ukraine on Monday morning at around 8:00 am, according to Euronews. The strikes followed the expiration of a localized ceasefire on Sunday after Russian officials refused to grant an extension, France 24 reported. The truce, which began on Tuesday morning, marked the longest pause in fighting since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, Euronews and France 24 both noted. [1][2]

US First Lady Melania Trump brokered the temporary pause in fighting, according to Euronews and France 24. The ceasefire allowed a humanitarian mission to reach the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, also spelled Olechky, and enabled hundreds of stranded civilians to leave the area, Euronews reported. The Ukrainian military safely evacuated 167 civilians from the region prior to the expiration of the truce, as FTMQ News reported earlier. [1][2][17]

Following the end of the truce, both Ukraine and Russia reported cyberattacks targeting their emergency alert mobile applications, France 24 reported. France 24 and Irish Independent outlets noted that the cyberattacks sent out erroneous warnings. Ukraine's air force stated on Telegram that its air alert app appeared to be subject to enemy influence, after false messages warned residents of nuclear and chemical threats in Kyiv, according to reports from the Irish Examiner and FTMQ News. [5][6][7][18]

The Russian emergencies ministry subsequently confirmed that its own emergency alert mobile application suffered a massive cyberattack, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over the cyber incidents as fighting resumed, according to France 24. Additionally, the BBC reported that Russian strikes cut off electrical power to thousands of residents across Ukraine as the Kherson ceasefire came to an end. [7][8][18]