REUTERS, Moscow

Russia and Ukraine yesterday accused each other of violating a unilateral two-day ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin to cover the anniversary celebrations of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.

Four years since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, Russia and Ukraine are still pummelling each other with missiles, drones and artillery.

With no victory yet in sight for either side in a gruelling war of attrition, Putin announced a May 8-9 ceasefire to cover the celebrations of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany - Russia’s most revered national holiday.

Kyiv responded that a ceasefire just for the holiday was inappropriate and called instead for an indefinite truce to begin two days earlier, which Moscow ignored.

The Russian Defence Ministry said 264 Ukrainian drones had been downed in the early hours of yesterday, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the capital had been targeted and officials said the Urals region of Perm had been attacked with drones.

“Despite the declaration of a ceasefire, Ukrainian armed forces continued to launch attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery against our troops’ positions, as well as against civilian facilities in the border regions of the Belgorod and Kursk regions,” Russia’s defence ministry said.

Russia has warned that any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt the Victory Day military parade on Red Square today would lead to a massive missile strike on Kyiv. Moscow has told foreign diplomats that if Ukraine does attack the event, they should evacuate the Ukrainian capital.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces continued to strike Ukrainian positions during the night yesterday, which he said showed Russia has not made “even a token attempt to cease fire on the front.”

“As we did over the past 24 hours, Ukraine will respond in kind today as well. We will defend our positions and people’s lives,” Zelensky said.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, including many millions in Ukraine, but pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Adolf Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in May 1945.

This year’s parade in Moscow will have no military equipment on display due to the threat of attack from Ukraine.