After 1169 days of war in Ukraine, two dead and eight injured, including four children, have been reported in Kiev after Russia launched 4 ballistic missiles and 142 drones in Ukraine just before the start of a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire by President Vladimir Putin in light of the celebrations in Moscow for Victory Day, rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who demands a ceasefire of at least 30 days.
Putin's initiative, a ceasefire from midnight until May 10-11, was supported by the President of United States, Donald Trump.
At least one ballistic missile and 28 Russian drones were recorded in the Ukrainian capital's airspace. There were also "numerous attacks" in the regions of Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Kherson, and Dnipro.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has attacked Moscow with drones for the third consecutive day, forcing the closure of most airports in the Russian capital, just as the country awaits leaders like Díaz Canel, Maduro, Lula da Silva, and Xi Jinping to attend the festivities.
The Kremlin has labeled these attacks as "terrorism," affecting at least 350 flights and the travel plans of at least 60,000 passengers.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden stated that the pressure from his successor for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia is a form of "modern appeasement" that will never satisfy Moscow and that "anyone who thinks it will stop is foolish."
The European Union invoiced Russia 23,000 million for energy purchased throughout 2024, crucial money in Putin's war machinery.