Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow intercepts over 50 drones headed for capital ahead of Putin’s parade
Watch: Zelensky warns foreign leaders against attending Moscow paradeZelensky warns foreign leaders against attending Moscow paradeArpan Rai8 May 2026 05:09Russia declares ceasefire with Ukraine to mark Second World War anniversaryRussia's defence ministry said on Thursday that Moscow had declared a ceasefire in the conflict with Ukraine from midnight on 8 May until 10 May to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War."During the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet people's victory in the Great Patriotic War, from midnight on 8 May to 10 May, the Russian side is declaring a ceasefire," the ministry said on Telegram.Russian president Vladimir Putin had on Monday declared a two-day ceasefire would be observed.Arpan Rai8 May 2026 05:07Nato fighter jets scrambled as drones from Russia crashed into oil storage facilityTwo drones entered Nato member Latvia from Russian territory and crashed on Thursday morning, the Latvian army has confirmed.Latvia's defence minister Andris Spruds told national broadcaster LSM that the drones were "probably launched by Ukraine against targets in Russia."Four empty oil tanks were damaged on Thursday morning at a storage facility in Rezekne, about 40km (25 miles) from the Russian border. Possible debris of a crashed drone was found at the site, police and firefighters said.The firefighters extinguished a smouldering area of around 30 square metres in one of the tanks.Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:41Russia summons Armenia's envoy over Zelensky's comments on war commemorationThe Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday it summoned the Armenian ambassador over what it described as "terrorist threats against Russia" voiced by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky during a visit to Armenia.A ministry statement said the ambassador was told it was "absolutely inadmissible" to provide the means, during an EU-sponsored gathering on Monday for "the ringleader of the Kyiv Nazi regime, V. Zelensky, to voice terrorist threats against Russia" in connection with Russia's Victory Day commemorations.The statement said there was "justified indignation" in Moscow over Zelensky's "outrageous behaviour" and the absence of Armenian criticism.Russia's Defence Ministry had earlier responded to what it saw as threats by Zelensky by saying Moscow's military would launch a retaliatory strike against Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted ceremonies marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova doubled down on that statement, telling diplomatic missions to take Moscow's warnings seriously and evacuate their staff in good time.In his comments in Armenia, Zelensky noted that Moscow had said its commemorative parade would proceed without displays of military hardware, adding: "It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling."Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky attends the 8th European Political Community (EPC) summit in Yerevan (AFP/Getty)Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:37Where have Ukraine peace talks been left?Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have been on hold since February, when the United States shifted focus to its new war in the Middle East.Moscow and Kyiv walked away from talks in Geneva no closer to a deal, as Ukraine suggested the US was unfairly demanding Kyiv alone make concessions to end the war.Volodymyr Zelensky said the last round of direct talks had been “difficult” and accused Russia of deliberately stalling, with the issue of territory still in dispute.What does either side want?Russia insists on its demands for Ukrainian territory and the withdrawal of forces from its borders.Ukraine insists it needs clear security guarantees from allies to stop Russia reopening the conflict and says it cannot and will not give up territory sought by Russia.The lands in the east include industry heavy regions and Ukraine’s belt of ‘fortress cities’ to protect against invasion.Volodymyr Zelensky said late in April that he was keen to meet with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, in an effort to restart negotiations.While Ukraine claimed a string of wins on the ground, Zelensky warned that US attention on the war with Iran was soaking up resources and leaving Ukraine with critical shortages of air defences.But the Kremlin said Putin would only meet Zelensky in Moscow for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict.Turkey said it was making efforts to restart talks and bring together the leaders, after hosting delegations in July 2025.Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:35Ukraine's top negotiator in Miami to meet Trump's envoys for peace talksUkraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov arrived in Miami for meetings with US negotiators yesterday on moving toward a peace accord.Umerov left Ukraine for the US on Wednesday, an official told Politico.“He will meet representatives of the US president to discuss diplomatic and security issues,” the official said, referring to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and US president Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.Zelensky said that achieving peace in Europe was the best way to honour those who fought against Nazi Germany."Just as 81 years ago, so now America can help peace with a just and strong stance against the aggressor," he said."And it is important that the American people now view Russia precisely in this way – as an aggressor."Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's top negotiator, at talks in Florida (X/Volodymyr Zelensky)Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:31Zelensky says Putin's war commemoration ceasefire shows 'strange and twisted logic'Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia's proclamation of a limited ceasefire for its Second World War commemorations exposed the "strange and twisted" logic of its leaders.Speaking in his nightly video address in the final hours before the Russian ceasefire went into effect at midnight (2100 GMT), Zelensky said Moscow wanted "to hold their parade, to go out onto the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war". “The Russians are already talking about strikes after 9 May. A strange and certainly twisted logic from the Russian leadership,” he said.There were no reports of Russian strikes or other military activity after the deadline passed.Air raid alerts had been announced for some Ukrainian regions in the final hours before it went into effect and the air force listed one brief alert for southeastern Ukraine after midnight.Zelensky's comments appeared to have been prepared before Russia's defence ministry announced an expanded ceasefire – from midnight on 8 May until 10 May – to mark the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in what Russians call the Great Patriotic War.Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:22Moscow mayor says more than 50 drones intercepted by RussiaRussian air defence units have intercepted more than 50 drones heading for Moscow over a period of about 15 hours, mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.The running total of drones downed between about 11am (0800 GMT) on Thursday and 2am on Friday exceeded 50, Sobyanin said in a long series of dispatches on Telegram announcing the interception of drones throughout Thursday.Russia's defence ministry said it would observe a three-day ceasefire starting at midnight on the night of 7 May to 8 May until 10 May in connection with commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.Emergency crews were examining debris on the ground, he said.Russia's defence ministry, posting separately on Telegram, said 95 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over a four-hour period ending at midnight in various regions of central and southern Russia.People walk in a square near the headquarters of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, in central Moscow (Reuters)Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:16Briefing: What we know on the 1,534th day of Ukraine warWith hours to go for Russian president Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russian officials say more than 50 drones headed for the capital have been destroyed and nearly 100 drones attacked Russia till midnight Ukraine’s Zelensky calls out “strange and inappropriate” logic of Putin to hold his “parade, to go out onto the square safely for an hour once a year, and then continue killing, killing our people and waging war" Ukraine's top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, lands in Miami for meetings with US negotiators on moving toward a peace accord, Zelensky says Arpan Rai8 May 2026 04:09
Comments (0)