The fragile hope of peace in Ukraine has been shattered. A wave of Russian drone strikes killed at least nine people overnight, just hours after the latest ceasefire agreement fell apart. The attacks hit residential areas in the southern city of Mykolaiv and the eastern town of Kramatorsk, wounding more than 20 others, including three children.

The strikes came after both sides accused each other of violating the truce, brokered by international mediators last week. Ukraine’s president called the assaults a ‘cynical betrayal’ and vowed to strengthen air defences. But for those on the ground, the cost is measured in homes reduced to rubble and families torn apart.

Local resident Olena, 62, stood in the cold morning air clutching a photograph of her son who died in the attack. ‘They promised us peace. They promised us bread,’ she said. ‘Now we have nothing but ashes.’ Her voice cracked as emergency workers sifted through debris.

The collapse of the ceasefire marks a grim milestone in a conflict that has already displaced millions. The United Nations reports that more than 7,000 civilians have been killed since the invasion began, with numbers climbing daily.

Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 24 of 33 drones launched overnight, but the ones that got through caused devastation. In Kramatorsk, a drone hit a block of flats, burying families under concrete. Rescuers pulled a girl alive from the wreckage after six hours. She was taken to hospital with severe injuries.

The international community has condemned the attacks, but calls for additional sanctions have met with resistance from nations reliant on Russian energy. For now, the rhythm of war continues. Air raid sirens wailed across much of eastern Ukraine as this report was filed.

In Mykolaiv, a market district was hit as traders set up stalls. ‘I sell potatoes to feed my children,’ said Andriy, 45, his hands covered in dust. ‘Now I have no stall, no potatoes, no income. The war takes everything.’

The ceasefire’s failure underscores the difficulty of negotiating with a power that has shown little regard for human life. For the people caught in the crossfire, the promise of peace remains a distant dream. The cost of this war is measured in more than territory: it is measured in the price of a funeral, the loss of a wage, the silence of a home that will never hear laughter again.