Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating a short ceasefire declared by Moscow to coincide with Victory Day commemorations marking the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany. The Kremlin claimed its forces shot down 264 Ukrainian drones early on Friday, with officials in Moscow reporting attempted attacks on the capital and the Perm region in the Ural Mountains.

The truce, announced from May 8 to May 10, was intended to cover annual celebrations including a military parade in Moscow. Russia warned that any disruption would trigger a large-scale missile response against Kyiv, urging foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital before potential escalation.

Russia's transport ministry said 13 airports in the south halted operations due to drone attacks. "Operations at the regional centre in Rostov-on-Don, which manages air traffic in southern Russia, have been temporarily suspended after a Ukrainian drone struck the administrative building of the 'Southern Russia Air Navigation' branch," the ministry said. No casualties were reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces continued to attack positions overnight, dismissing the ceasefire as ineffective. He claimed Russia carried out over 140 attacks on front-line positions by early morning, along with 10 assaults and more than 850 drone attacks.

Ukraine also reported striking a Russian oil facility in Yaroslavl, deep inside Russian territory, in what Kyiv described as retaliation for attacks on its cities. "Ukraine's long-range sanctions continued in response to Russian strikes on our cities and villages," Zelenskyy said.

Kyiv had proposed an open-ended ceasefire starting May 6, which it said Russia ignored. Moscow did not adopt that proposal, and neither side accepted the other's terms. Zelenskyy criticized Russia's approach, saying Moscow sought a pause "to hold their parade, to go out onto the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing."

Source: www.aljazeera.com