Drones strike Kyiv, Moscow, as Putin plans WW2 parade

Drones strike Kyiv, Moscow, as Putin plans WW2 parade

At least two people have reportedly been killed after a night of heavy fighting between Ukraine and Russia – with drone strikes on Kyiv and Moscow.

The fighting comes a day ahead of a planned parade in the Russian capital to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two – with President Vladimir Putin proposing a three-day ceasefire to coincide with the event.

Ukraine has not agreed to the proposal and has pushed for a truce lasting at least 30 days.

Two people had been killed in the Ukrainian capital by the latest Russian strikes, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.

It is the third night running that Moscow has been targeted by drones, again prompting the city’s four airports to be closed for several hours.

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Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on social media that Russian air defence units destroyed at least 14 Ukrainian drones after 22:00 local time (20:00 BST) on Tuesday. No damage was reported.

In Kyiv, falling debris from drones sparked fires in apartments and other buildings in three districts.

Mayor Klitschko said the two people who died were in a residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, which had been hit by fragments from a drone strike.

On social media, he also said that four children were among seven people who had been injured.

Last month, the Kremlin announced a temporary ceasefire from 8-10 May to coincide with events planned in Moscow marking Victory in Europe Day.

The city is due to hold a parade on 9 May to mark the success of the Soviet Union and allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two. This year is the 80th anniversary and will see world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, in Russia for the event.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has called the proposed ceasefire “pointless”. Instead, it offered an unconditional ceasefire over at least 30 days in line with a US proposal launched in March.

A previous ceasefire over Easter repeatedly broke down, with both Russian and Ukraine accusing each other of multiple breaches.

Drones strike Kyiv, Moscow, as Putin plans WW2 parade

BBC