More than 140 strikes on Ukrainian front-line positions had been recorded by 7 a.m. local time, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"The Celebration in Russia is for Victory Day, but, likewise, in Ukraine, because they were also a big part and factor of World War II. This Ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each Country."
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed that Ukraine's military launched dozens of drones towards the Russian capital throughout the night on May 8, just one day before Moscow is set to stage its annual Victory Day military parade.
Tensions have been mounting this week ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9, with an apparent uptick in Ukrainian drone attacks prompting a flurry of speculation, ceasefire proposals, and threats of strikes and counterstrikes. What’s happening this weekend? If you take the rhetoric at face value, possibly a Ukrainian strike on Russia's most important parade of the year, and a massive "retaliatory" strike on central Kyiv. Russia observes Victory Day on May 9, a hugely public hol
Russia has used drones to drop propaganda leaflets resembling Ukrainian banknotes in border areas ahead of Victory Day, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said.
When the leaked transcripts were first published on April 28, the President's Office declined to comment, while President Volodymyr Zelensky has stayed tight-lipped on the scandal since it broke in November.
The Kyiv Independent’s Kollen Post and Nick Allard embed with sailors of the Ukrainian Navy operating small mine-clearing vessels off the coast of Odesa. Using sea drones and sonar systems, these crews identify potential explosives and secure maritime routes — often under the threat of Russian drone and missile attacks.
"We just don't see the point (to follow it) for the parade," a senior Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent.
