Russia Threatens Kyiv Strikes Ahead of Victory Day Parade

Moscow– Russia warned foreign diplomats in Kyiv to evacuate the Ukrainian capital ahead of Moscow’s World War Two Victory Day commemorations, saying it could launch retaliatory strikes if Ukraine disrupted events surrounding the May 9 military parade in Red Square.

In a diplomatic note sent to foreign embassies and international organizations on Wednesday, Moscow said it would carry out “retaliatory strikes,” including against “decision-making centers” in Kyiv, should Ukraine attempt attacks linked to the commemorations.

Russia urged diplomatic missions to “ensure the timely evacuation of personnel from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, from the city of Kyiv.”Ukraine did not immediately respond to the warning.The threat comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations, a major state event commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War Two.

Earlier this week, Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire for May 8-9 to coincide with the commemorations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the move and proposed a separate ceasefire beginning May 6, which Kyiv said Moscow ignored.Zelensky suggested earlier this week that Russia feared potential Ukrainian drone activity over Moscow during the parade.

In his nightly address on Wednesday, he accused Russia of continuing attacks despite Kyiv’s proposed truce and said Ukraine would “respond in kind.”Ukrainian officials reported multiple Russian strikes throughout Wednesday, including attacks in the northern Sumy region where local authorities said at least two people were killed at a kindergarten.

Overall, officials reported at least four deaths in attacks across the country.Military officers stationed on the eastern front told AFP that combat activity had continued at existing intensity levels despite ceasefire discussions.“The enemy continued to carry out infantry raids and attempts to storm our positions,” one Ukrainian officer said on condition of anonymity, adding that Ukrainian forces had responded to Russian attacks.

Another frontline commander said fighting remained unchanged, describing the military response as “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”Russia’s defense ministry said it intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones overnight between 2100 GMT and 0700 GMT, a lower number than reported in previous days.

The ministry did not specify whether any attacks occurred after Kyiv’s proposed ceasefire deadline.The conflict has intensified in recent weeks with both sides carrying out strikes deep behind front lines. On Tuesday, Ukrainian drone attacks reportedly killed two people in the Russian city of Cheboksary along the Volga River, hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine’s border.Security measures in Moscow have tightened ahead of Friday’s parade.

Russian authorities have announced intermittent citywide internet shutdowns and said military hardware would be removed from the parade for the first time in nearly two decades.Diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fifth year, have shown limited progress.

Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from four regions claimed by Russia, conditions Kyiv has rejected.