Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of breaching Victory Day ceasefire

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of breaching Victory Day ceasefire21 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleRobert GreenallBBC NewsReutersRussians have been told to expect internet outages during the holiday celebrationsRussia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating separate ceasefires declared by each side to cover the celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. The Russian defence ministry reported more than 1,000 violations in the conflict zone, while Moscow's mayor said the city had been targeted by drones since the ceasefire began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT Thursday). Ukraine also said Russia had continued to strike its positions since that time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May ahead of Victory Day celebrations on Saturday. Kyiv had earlier called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May. Russia has warned Ukraine not to try to attack the Victory Day parade in Red Square.

The Details

Its defence ministry has threatened to launch a "retaliatory, massive missile strike" on the centre of Kyiv if Moscow is attacked. It has warned foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital ahead of 9 May. For the first time in nearly two decades there will be no military hardware at the parade, while the Russian capital is on high alert over the fears that Ukraine could try to disrupt the events.

Residents of Moscow and St Petersburg have also been warned their mobile internet access will be limited for security reasons. The celebrations used to bring large numbers of foreign guests to Moscow, but this time only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos, and a few other dignitaries, will attend. Getty ImagesThere will be no military hardware at the parade, only soldiersIn a post on Telegram on Friday morning, the Russian defence ministry said there had been 1,365 violations of the ceasefire, including 153 artillery strikes and 887 drone strikes in the conflict zone.

It said Ukraine was also continuing to strike civilian targets in border areas of the Kursk and Belgorod regions, close to the conflict zone. Russian armed forces provided a "mirror response" to the violations, the ministry added. Meanwhile Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said some 20 drones had been downed near the city in just the first two hours of the ceasefire.

What Experts Say

Ukrainian strikes were also reported on industrial sites in the Perm and Yaroslavl regions, as well as sites in the Rostov region and the Chechen capital Grozny. Thirteen airports in southern Russia also suspended operations after a drone attack. ReutersUkraine said Russia had ignored its proposal of a ceasefire starting 6 MayUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram that there had been more than 140 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the first few hours of the truce, and more than 850 drone strikes.

"All of this clearly indicates that there was not even a simulated attempt from the Russian side to cease fire at the front," he said.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.