Drone strikes continue despite Russia’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire.
MOSCOW – Russia and Ukraine launched fresh overnight drone attacks, raising doubts over whether Moscow’s unilateral ceasefire proposal ahead of Victory Day commemorations would hold.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted 264 Ukrainian drones between midnight and 7:00 AM local time, including several flying near the Moscow region.
Earlier, Russia announced plans for a temporary suspension of combat operations and long-range strikes on 8-9 May, according to Bloomberg.
However, Moscow said it would retaliate if Ukraine launched attacks first.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had instead carried out more than 140 attacks along Ukraine’s front lines overnight and attempted 10 ground assaults, particularly around Slovyansk.
Ukraine also reported that several regions had been targeted by dozens of Russian drones.
“All of this shows that from the Russian side there is not even any intention to cease fire,” Zelenskyy wrote on his personal X account.
He stressed that Ukraine would continue retaliating while defending itself, as Russia’s ceasefire proposal had never been discussed with Kyiv.
Ukraine had previously also proposed its own ceasefire plan beginning on 5 May.
Ahead of the Victory Day parade on 9 May at Moscow’s Red Square, Zelenskyy also urged foreign leaders planning to attend to reconsider their visits.
According to Zelenskyy, attending a military parade amid the current wartime situation would be an inappropriate decision.
Meanwhile, Russia warned that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations would be met with missile strikes targeting central Kyiv.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry was also reported to have urged foreign embassies to take the threat seriously and consider evacuating staff and citizens from the Ukrainian capital.
Last Friday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had successfully struck the Yaroslavl oil refinery in Russia, located more than 700km from the border.
The tensions have also heightened security concerns ahead of commemorations marking the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
Moscow announced that this year’s parade would not feature heavy military equipment for the first time since 2007. (DK/KR/ZH)
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