Russian and Ukrainian forces continued exchanging drone, missile and artillery attacks on Friday despite a unilateral ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to coincide with Victory Day commemorations marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
The conflict, now in its fourth year since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, remains the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two, with both sides accusing each other of undermining the proposed truce.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 264 Ukrainian drones overnight, while officials reported attempted strikes on Moscow and the Perm region in the Ural Mountains.
Moscow accused Ukrainian forces of continuing attacks against Russian troop positions and civilian infrastructure in the Belgorod and Kursk border regions despite the ceasefire declaration.
Ukraine, in response, rejected Russia’s claims of restraint. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian troops continued striking Ukrainian positions overnight, arguing that Moscow had not made “even a token attempt” to halt hostilities.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine would continue responding to Russian attacks while defending its territory and citizens.
Security concerns have grown ahead of Saturday’s Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square, one of Russia’s most symbolic annual military events. Russia warned that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the celebrations would trigger a major missile response against Kyiv.
Moscow has also advised foreign diplomats that they should leave the Ukrainian capital if attacks occur during the event.
Security measures have been significantly tightened around the Kremlin and across central Moscow amid fears of possible Ukrainian strikes. Russian security officers and military patrols have been deployed in key areas, while several metro stations are expected to close during the celebrations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western media reports suggesting President Putin’s security had been reinforced because of fears of a coup or assassination attempt, insisting that heightened protection is standard practice during major national holidays.
The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people during World War Two, including millions from Ukraine, before Soviet forces captured Berlin in 1945.
This year’s Victory Day parade will reportedly feature fewer displays of military hardware due to concerns over possible attacks from Ukraine.
The Kremlin has increasingly used the annual commemoration to rally public support for the war in Ukraine, although the prolonged conflict has strained Russian society and businesses, with repeated internet outages and tightened security measures
Despite intermittent diplomatic efforts, peace negotiations remain stalled, with Ukraine rejecting Russia’s demands that it cede territory captured since the invasion began.
Goodness Anunobi
