A few days before the celebrations of May 9, a highly symbolic date in Russia, Ukraine hit hard. During the night from Monday to Tuesday, more than 100 drones targeted Russian territory, reaching several regions and causing the temporary closure of airports, including in Moscow. This procedure of force comes as the Kremlin decrees a unilateral truce of three days, rejected by kyiv.
Beyond the slogans of victory, the war is invited to the sky of Moscow. Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russian territory on Monday to Tuesday, marking a new climbing in the conflict. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 105 drones were intercepted or neutralized by the anti -aircraft defense, 19 of which were directly aimed at the capital.
The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobianine, said that the debris of these devices fell on an avenue in the south of the city, without making a victim, “19 devices aimed at the capital were intercepted by the anti -aircraft defense. Drone debris fell into the south of Moscow, without however making victims, “he said.
Images broadcast by the Russian media show a split window, a blackened facade and worried residents. A rare intrusion of conflict in a city where war seemed to be distant.
The Russian capital, however apparently spared by fighting since the start of the large -scale invasion, in February 2022, saw its four main airports – Chérémétiévo, Domodedovo, Vnoukovo and Joukovski – temporarily suspend their activities. Several other air installations have been forced to close, especially in the major cities of the Volga such as Nijni Novgorod, Samara, Saratov and Volgograd, the old Stalingrad.
Border regions affected
In Koursk, two adolescents were injured in an attack and power cuts were reported on the night of Monday and Tuesday. The governors of Penza and Voronej also reported the interception of 10 and 18 drones respectively.
This wave of strikes, one of the most important since the start of the war, occurs in a highly symbolic moment for Russia. Indeed, the country is preparing to commemorate the 80e Anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany with a military parade scheduled for Friday, May 9 on the Red Square, in the presence of Vladimir Putin, Chinese President, Xi Jinping, Brazilian president, Lula, and 27 other foreign leaders.
-A unilateral ceasefire decreed by Moscow
From May 8 to 10, a ceasefire is supposed to offer a respite for celebrations. But kyiv rejected this proposal, denouncing an “attempted manipulation”. Volodymyr Zelensky compared the approach to a staging intended for the international audience, qualifying the truce of “theatrical performance”.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov warned that Russia would “immediately” respond to any attack during this period. “If the kyiv regime continues to hit our positions, an adequate response will be given,” he said.
kyiv camps on a firm line
Under pressure from its Western allies, notably the United States, Ukraine continues to claim a global and unconditional cease-fire, prior to any negotiation with Moscow. Russia insists on concrete guarantees concerning its territorial and strategic demands, especially in the already annexed regions.
The interview scheduled for Thursday between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin could provide answers on the respective positions of the great allies in the face of the diplomatic impasse. Chinese soldiers will also participate in the May 9 parade, alongside troops of twelve other countries, which kyiv firmly condemned. “Walking with the aggressor is sharing the responsibility for the blood shed,” denounced Ukrainian diplomacy.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues. Russian strikes have killed at least three people in Ukraine, especially in the regions of Odessa, Donetsk and Kherson. The Russian army also claims to take the locality of Lyssivka, in the East. An exchange of 205 prisoners of war took place between the two camps, the last gesture of relative cooperation in a conflict which still seems far from its term.
