moscow . The war between Russia and Ukraine has entered its fifth year. This war between Ukraine and Russia, supported by Western countries, which started on 24 February 2022, has now become the center of global diplomatic and economic tension. Victory Day will be celebrated in Russia on 9th May. For this, Russia has announced a unilateral military ceasefire. This will be effective from midnight on 8th May. Ukraine launched a barrage of drone attacks on Russia on Thursday night.
According to the reports of Tass news agency and Moscow Times newspaper, Russia has claimed to have shot down 347 Ukrainian drones launched for the attack. Ukraine launched drone attacks targeting more than 20 Russian regions. It is considered one of the largest drone attacks in Ukraine since the start of the war. Earlier in March, Ukraine had launched 389 drones.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said that air defense systems had to be activated in many areas including Moscow. Ukraine sent several more drones on Thursday also. They were moving towards Moscow. This also affected the air traffic of the capital. About 100 flights from Moscow’s three major airports, Remetyev, Domodedovo and Vnukovo, were canceled or delayed. It is important that before the announcement of Russia’s military ceasefire, Ukraine had also said to stop the attacks from midnight on Tuesday.
Ukraine claims nine people, including three children, were injured in a Russian drone strike in its second-largest city Kharkiv. Russia fired 102 drones overnight. Killed 92 of them. Russian military officials said security arrangements have been tightened ahead of the start of the Victory Day celebrations. Mobile internet and messaging services will also remain closed in Moscow on May 9. This time tanks, missiles and heavy military equipment will not be seen in the parade. The ministry has cited the current security situation as the reason for this.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation is complex. Despite this, additional security measures are being taken on Vijay Diwas. At the same time, Russia has warned Ukraine that if any attempt is made to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations, a large-scale retaliatory attack can be launched on Kiev. Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov said that special preparations are being made for the possibility of retaliatory action. The Russian Foreign Ministry has also advised foreign embassies and international organizations present in Kiev to vacate their offices as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry on Thursday accused Ukraine of using Latvian airspace to carry out drone attacks on civilians in St. Petersburg. This allegation was made when Latvia said that several drones from Russia had entered its territory. Latvian officials said two drones fell in their territory early Thursday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry later reported that its air defense systems detected six drones in Latvian airspace at about 3:20 a.m. Moscow time. The army claimed to have shot down one of the aircraft, which it identified as a Ukrainian long-range attack drone. According to the Defense Ministry, the remaining five drones disappeared from radar near Rezekne at around 4:00 am. Officials said the ceasefire will be in effect from midnight (00:00) of May 8 to May 10. During this period, all Russian forces involved in special military operations will cease their military activities. Russian military actions against Ukrainian military bases and military industrial installations located in the interior of Ukraine will remain suspended.
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