Hostilities intensify between Ukraine and Russia, escalating tensions before the staged Moscow military parade
KYIV - In an unusual twist, Russia and Ukraine traded a series of drone attacks overnight on Wednesday, causing two fatalities in Kyiv and forcing Moscow to shut major airports just before a host of foreign leaders were due to arrive.
Amidst this chaos, Russia declared a whimsical three-day truce, slated to begin at 9 PM GMT on Wednesday, timed to coincide with its grand May 9 military parade on Red Square, marking 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Some notable guests expected in Moscow for the occasion include Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, among 29 foreign leaders[2]. This public holiday under President Vladimir Putin has taken on increased importance.
Ukraine pejoratively labeled Putin's ceasefire order as a "manipulation" and a "game" designed to safeguard the parade, rather than a genuine attempt at peace[1]. In response to the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pressing for an unprecedented 30-day ceasefire[1]. This proposal is supported by US President Donald Trump and was earlier rejected by Putin[1].
Zelensky appealed for intensified pressure on Russia and stronger sanctions to facilitate diplomacy and bring an end to the conflict[1]. He emphasized that sanctions depriving the aggressor of resources for waging war would be essential to achieving a lasting peace[1].
Prior to the truce's implementation, Russia launched a wave of drone attacks across Ukraine, culminating in a woman and her son's death in Kyiv[1]. The Kremlin reportedly fired 142 drones and four ballistic missiles[1]. Apart from the fatalities, a building fire was reported in the central Shevchenkivsky district, caused by falling debris from a drone attack[1].
Airports across western Russia faced travel chaos due to drone attacks by Ukraine[3]. Arrivals and departures from Moscow's main Sheremetyevo international airport were suspended for hours[3]. Moscow routinely halts air traffic in affected areas, but the scale of these forced closures has escalated significantly as the parade approaches[3].
The Russian defense ministry claimed to have brought down numerous Ukrainian drones targeting key locations within the country, including Moscow[3]. Meanwhile, Ukraine denied responsibility for Moscow's infrastructure targets and espoused it as fair retaliation for daily missile and drone barrages on its own cities[3].
The conflict has already left thousands dead, with several towns and cities in Ukraine's south and east ravaged under intense Russian aerial attacks[3]. Although Russia currently controls around 20% of the country, including the Crimean peninsula, ongoing tensions persist[3]. Recent waves of missile strikes on civilian areas have sparked outrage and prompted a rare rebuke from US President Donald Trump[3]. The future of the ceasefire remains uncertain as Ukraine has expressed doubts regarding the safety of foreign leaders attending the parade in Moscow[3].
- Amidst the escalating war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Putin announced a three-day truce, set to begin at 9 PM GMT on Wednesday, but Ukraine dismissed it as a manipulation.
- General news outlets have noticed that Putin's ceasefire order came timed to coincide with a grand military parade in Moscow, raising questions about its authenticity.
- Crime-and-justice reporters have been following the ongoing drone flyovers and missile attacks in both countries, resulting in fatalities and infrastructure damage.
- As the ceasefire talks progress and foreign leaders prepare to arrive at the Russian military parade, there have been reports of putin's politics creating tension and unease in related peace negotiations.
