Russia and Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Ceasefire Violations Ahead of Victory Day

Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating separate ceasefires declared by each side for the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany celebrations.

The Russian defense ministry reported more than 1,000 violations in the conflict zone. Moscow's mayor said the city had faced drone attacks since the ceasefire began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT Thursday).

Ukraine said Russia kept striking its positions after that time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire for May 8-9 ahead of Victory Day on Saturday. Kyiv had called earlier for an indefinite truce starting May 6.

Ukraine's defense ministry threatened a "retaliatory, massive missile strike" on central Moscow if the Russian capital is attacked. It warned foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv ahead of May 9.

The Moscow parade will lack military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades. The Russian capital remains on high alert over fears Ukraine might disrupt the events.

Moscow and St. Petersburg residents received warnings of limited mobile internet access for security reasons.

Celebrations once drew large numbers of foreign guests to Moscow. This year, only leaders from Belarus, Malaysia and Laos, plus a few dignitaries, will attend.

In a Friday morning Telegram post, the Russian defense ministry detailed 1,365 violations, including 153 artillery strikes and 887 drone strikes in the conflict zone. It said Ukraine continued hitting civilian targets in the border Kursk and Belgorod regions.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said forces downed about 20 drones near the city in the ceasefire's first two hours.

Reports noted Ukrainian strikes on industrial sites in the Perm and Yaroslavl regions, as well as in the Rostov region and Chechen capital Grozny.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram that Russia carried out more than 140 attacks on Ukrainian positions and over 850 drone strikes in the truce's first hours. "All of this clearly indicates that there was not even a simulated attempt from the Russian side to cease fire at the front," he said.