Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating truce

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating a two-day ceasefire that Moscow declared to mark the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

Russia’s defense ministry said early Friday that 264 Ukrainian drones were shot down, while Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital was targeted and officials said Perm’s Ural region was attacked by drones.

Russia declared an armistice from 8 to 10 May, when the Soviet Union celebrated its victory over Nazi Germany and held a military parade in Moscow.

Russia warned that any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the celebrations would lead to a major missile attack on Kiev, and Moscow told foreign diplomats to evacuate the Ukrainian capital ahead of any possible retaliation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russian forces continued to hit Ukrainian positions throughout the night on Friday, which showed that Russia “did not even make a token attempt to cease fire on the front.”

He said there had been more than 140 Russian attacks on Kiev’s front-line positions as of 7 a.m. local time.

He said Russian forces launched 10 attacks and more than 850 drone strikes overnight.

“Just as we did in the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in the same way today. We will defend our positions and people’s lives,” Zelenskiy said. he said.

In response to Moscow’s statement, Zelenskiy offered an indefinite ceasefire starting from May 6 and said that Russia violated it.

Neither side accepted the other’s proposals.