Ukraine disregarded Moscow’s self-imposed ceasefire by launching multiple drone attacks on Russia overnight and into Friday morning, causing a significant fire at a vital oil refinery. The Yaroslavl plant, located nearly 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, was destroyed as Kyiv deployed numerous ‘kamikaze’ weapons to strike targets across more than a dozen Russian regions, prompting retaliatory fire from Moscow.
This assault marked the latest in a series of long-range strikes deep inside Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning Moscow’s actions as he accused them of seeking peace only for ceremonial purposes while continuing to wage war and harm Ukrainian civilians.
Zelensky praised the successful strike on the Yaroslavl oil facility, emphasizing its strategic importance in financing Russia’s military activities. He credited the Ukrainian Armed Forces and military intelligence for executing what he described as a just response to Russian aggression.
In retaliation, Russia launched over 140 attacks and approximately 850 drone strikes, defying their own ceasefire agreement. Additionally, Russian ground troops conducted more than ten assaults on Ukrainian positions, including a major attack near Rostov-on-Don, which led to significant explosions close to a military installation.
Despite Moscow declaring a Victory Day ceasefire from May 8-10, Ukrainian drones continued to target Russian territories, resulting in the downing of more than 50 drones in the Moscow region. Russian defense officials claimed to have intercepted up to 264 Ukrainian drones, causing widespread damage from flying debris.
In Moscow, aviation authorities reported intercepting several drones near Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports, causing disruptions, while a fire raged in the western industrial area of Rostov-on-Don, targeting military and chemical facilities. The Kremlin had proposed a temporary halt to hostilities in honor of the WWII Victory Day celebrations on May 9.
President Zelensky criticized the Kremlin’s ceasefire attempt as insincere and theatrical, vowing to respond to Russian attacks on civilians with proportional actions. The upcoming Moscow parade on Saturday is expected to feature fewer displays due to equipment shortages, with reports suggesting that battle-hardened veterans have been recalled to bolster the parade numbers.
Russia has suffered significant casualties exceeding a million troops killed or injured since the invasion began in February 2022. Amid fears of a potential coup, Vladimir Putin is reportedly spending extended periods underground in bunkers for personal safety.
