On Monday, on the eve of the May 9 Russian holiday commemorating the victory over Nazi Germany, Russia launched the largest drone array in months against Ukraine.
According to Reuters, the mayor of Kyiv said that Russia fired 60 Iranian-made kamikaze drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at the capital, all of which were shot down. Debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people in the city.
Kiev has said Moscow is also making a last-ditch attempt to seize the ruined eastern town of Bakhmut in order to hand over to President Vladimir Putin his only prize, Russia’s costly winter Victory Day offensive.
Moscow is gearing up for Tuesday’s Victory Parade, the most important day on the Russian calendar under Putin, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945 in an attempt to mobilize Russians to invade Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated Victory Day on Monday instead of Tuesday, announcing a decree changing the date of the holiday to coincide with the practice of Western allies.
“Remembering the heroism of millions of Ukrainians in the war against Nazism, we see the same heroism in the actions of our soldiers today,” he said. The President of Ukraine compared the Ukrainian troops, which are now fighting with Russia, with those who fought against the Nazis.