Russia attacks Ukraine with huge drone swarm ahead of Victory Day
Published: 04:05 PM,May 08,2023 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 08,2023
Smoke erupts following a shell explosion, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Bakhmut, Donetsk region. — Reuters
KYIV: Russia launched its biggest swarm of drones for months against Ukraine on Monday, the eve of Russia's May 9 holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany, which Kyiv marked a day earlier in a symbolic new break with Moscow.
Kyiv's mayor said Russia had fired 60 drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at the capital, all of which had been shot down. Debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people in the capital.
A food warehouse was set ablaze by a missile in the Black Sea city of Odesa, where officials reported three people were injured.
It was the biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed Russian air campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March.
Kyiv said Moscow was also making a final push to try to capture the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut in time for Victory Day.
In a new break with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy marked Victory Day on Monday rather than Tuesday, announcing that he had signed a decree to change the date of the holiday in line with the practice of Western allies.
'Recalling the heroism of millions of Ukrainians, we see the same heroism in the actions of our soldiers today,' said Zelenskiy, who addressed the nation from a hilltop overlooking Kyiv.
Russia foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that by changing the date, Zelenskiy had betrayed the memory of Ukrainians who fought in the war.
On the day of Russia's parade, Zelenskiy will underscore Ukraine's ambition to join the West by receiving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to the EU which took the unusual step of announcing her war zone visit a day in advance.
Brussels marks May 9 as 'Europe Day', honouring a 1950 French declaration that led to the founding of the body that became the EU.
Russia has cancelled or curtailed some of the huge military parades that normally accompany Victory Day. Western countries say this decision arose in part out of security concerns and in part because
Separately, Russian forces shelled eight spots in Sumy in northeastern Ukraine on Sunday, the regional military administration said.
Strikes have also intensified in the past two weeks on Russian-held targets, especially in Crimea. Ukraine does not confirm any role in such attacks. — Reuters
Kyiv's mayor said Russia had fired 60 drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at the capital, all of which had been shot down. Debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people in the capital.
A food warehouse was set ablaze by a missile in the Black Sea city of Odesa, where officials reported three people were injured.
It was the biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed Russian air campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March.
Kyiv said Moscow was also making a final push to try to capture the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut in time for Victory Day.
In a new break with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy marked Victory Day on Monday rather than Tuesday, announcing that he had signed a decree to change the date of the holiday in line with the practice of Western allies.
'Recalling the heroism of millions of Ukrainians, we see the same heroism in the actions of our soldiers today,' said Zelenskiy, who addressed the nation from a hilltop overlooking Kyiv.
Russia foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that by changing the date, Zelenskiy had betrayed the memory of Ukrainians who fought in the war.
On the day of Russia's parade, Zelenskiy will underscore Ukraine's ambition to join the West by receiving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to the EU which took the unusual step of announcing her war zone visit a day in advance.
Brussels marks May 9 as 'Europe Day', honouring a 1950 French declaration that led to the founding of the body that became the EU.
Russia has cancelled or curtailed some of the huge military parades that normally accompany Victory Day. Western countries say this decision arose in part out of security concerns and in part because
Separately, Russian forces shelled eight spots in Sumy in northeastern Ukraine on Sunday, the regional military administration said.
Strikes have also intensified in the past two weeks on Russian-held targets, especially in Crimea. Ukraine does not confirm any role in such attacks. — Reuters