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Russia, Ukraine trade major attacks ahead of Moscow's Victory Day celebrations
Russia and Ukraine exchange major strikes with Moscow’s unilateral Victory Day ceasefire quickly collapsing amid escalating threats and drone attacks.
Russia, Ukraine trade major attacks ahead of Moscow's Victory Day celebrations
A rescuer works at the site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine May 7 2026. / Reuters

Russia and Ukraine launched major attacks on each other on Friday, with a two-day unilateral ceasefire that Moscow had declared around its World War II commemorations appearing to be in tatters.

"On the Russian side, there was not even a token attempt to cease fire on the front," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Ukraine's air force reported downing 56 drones in the last hours.

"As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

Russia lobbed "more than 850 strikes with drones of various types" along with more than 140 strikes on Kiev's frontline positions, Zelenskyy said.

Russia's defence ministry said it had downed 264 Ukrainian drones overnight, the first hours of the Kremlin's unilateral two-day ceasefire.

Ukraine had blasted Russia's temporary truce as a propaganda measure to protect the victory parade on May 9, one of the most important patriotic events for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Hours before Russia's ceasefire began, Zelenskyy warned allies of Russia against attending the parade.

"We have also received messages from some states close to Russia, saying that their representatives plan to be in Moscow... A strange desire... in these days. We do not recommend it," Zelenskyy said.

"They want from Ukraine a permit to hold their parade so that they can go out onto the square safely for one hour once a year, and then go on killing," the Ukrainian leader added.

RelatedTRT World - Ukraine accuses Russia of new strikes before Kiev's ceasefire takes effect

Zelenskyy had earlier proposed a counter-truce from May 6 that has gone unheeded.

With Moscow doubling down on its attacks on Ukraine in the last days, Kiev has struck back.

The Russian defence ministry had, in turn, urged residents and diplomats to leave Kiev, threatening a potential retaliatory strike in case of a Ukrainian attack during its ceasefire.

"We remind the civilian population of Kiev and staff at foreign diplomatic missions once again of the need to leave the city in good time," the defence ministry said in a statement.

Britain's foreign office said Moscow's threats were "unwarranted, irresponsible and completely unjustified", adding that any attack on a diplomatic mission would be a further escalation in the war.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Bloomberg TV that Berlin will not pull its embassy staff out of Kiev.

Zelenskyy will also stay "in Kiev" over the weekend, a senior source close to the Ukrainian president told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Parade at risk

During the truce, Russia's defence ministry said it would "completely" halt fire along the frontline and stop long-range strikes on military infrastructure. If Ukraine did not follow suit, Moscow would respond "in kind", the ministry said.

Russia marks World War II Victory Day each year on May 9 with a massive military parade through Red Square.

In recent weeks, Kiev, which has expanded its drone capabilities, has stepped up strikes on Moscow and deep inside Russia, hitting targets hundreds of miles from Ukraine.

The attacks have created unease in Russia ahead of the parade, normally a grand show of force displaying tanks and missiles, which marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Moscow has said it will omit military hardware from the procession for the first time in almost 20 years.

The number of foreign guests has also shrunk, only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos will attend, alongside leaders of two Russia-backed Georgian breakaway republics not recognised by the UN, according to the Kremlin.

Moscow has also started intermittent city-wide internet shutdowns lasting until Saturday.

Talks on ending what has spiralled into Europe's worst conflict since World War II have shown little progress and have been sidelined by the Iran conflict.

Moscow is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from four regions it claims as its own, terms seen as unacceptable to Kiev.

RelatedTRT World - Russia's unilateral truce begins as Ukraine tells countries to boycott Moscow victory parade
SOURCE:AFP