Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Monday of violating a two-day truce that Moscow declared to cover celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. The Russian Defense Ministry said 264 Ukrainian drones had been shot down in the early hours of Friday, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was the target of the attack and officials said the Urals region of Perm was attacked by drones. Russia has declared a ceasefire from May 8 to 10, when it celebrates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany and holds a military parade in Moscow.
Russia warned that any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt the celebration would lead to a massive missile attack on Kiev, and Moscow told foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital ahead of any possible retaliation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces continued to attack Ukrainian positions on Friday evening, which, he said, shows that Russia has not made "even a symbolic attempt at a ceasefire on the front."
He said that as of 7 a.m. local time, there had been more than 140 Russian attacks on frontline positions in Kiev. Russian forces had carried out 10 strikes overnight and launched more than 850 drone strikes, he added.
"As we have done in the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond with the same measure today. We will defend our positions and people's lives," Zelensky said.
This week, in response to Moscow's announcement, Zelensky proposed an indefinite ceasefire starting on May 6, which he said Russia had violated. Neither side has agreed to the other's proposals.
The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War II, including many millions in Ukraine, but pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Adolf Hitler committed suicide and a red Soviet flag of victory was raised over the Reichstag in May 1945.
