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Russia: Ukraine Launched Drone Attack 05/07 06:09
(AP) -- Russian air defenses shot down 347 Ukrainian drones overnight,
Russia's Defense Ministry said Thursday, in what appeared to be a major attack
after Moscow spurned Kyiv's ceasefire earlier in the week and tension mounted
over safety at Russia's upcoming Victory Day celebrations.
Incoming drones were destroyed over 20 Russian regions, including Moscow,
according to the Defense Ministry, in Ukraine's second-biggest aerial attack
since Russia's all-out invasion more than four years ago. The largest was last
March when it launched 389 drones.
The attack came ahead of Russia's most important secular holiday, Victory
Day, which marks the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Russian authorities have declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday
and Saturday.
Ukraine had responded to that with its own suspension of hostilities from
midnight Tuesday. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow
disregarded the goodwill gesture and launched fresh attacks.
"Russia has not stopped any type of its military activity. Unfortunately, it
has not stopped. Ukraine will act symmetrically," Zelenskyy said in his regular
evening video address Wednesday.
He said Thursday on X that Russia's attacks have been ceaseless, with
drones, missiles, artillery shelling and glide bombs hitting civilian areas of
Ukraine, including the power grid and rail network.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest, a drone
strike wounded nine people, including three children, local officials said.
Tension has grown as Russia's Victory Day celebrations approach and U.S.-led
peace efforts gain no traction.
All mobile internet access and text messaging services will be shut down in
the Russian capital on May 9, state media reported Thursday, citing the
country's Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.
Also, a traditional parade in Moscow won't feature the usual tanks, missiles
and other military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades.
Russian authorities say they are concerned about possible Ukrainian attacks,
as Kyiv has expanded its long-range drone and missile capabilities.
The Russian Defense Ministry cited the "current operational situation" as a
reason for excluding military equipment.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that additional security
measures were being taken due to the "rather complex operational situation."
The measures being taken "are necessary to ensure the safety of citizens,
which is an absolute priority," Peskov told reporters.
The restrictions will include websites on the Russian government's so-called
"white list," a group of state-approved online services that are kept available
during the country's increasingly common connectivity blackouts.
Home internet and Wi-Fi will be unaffected, officials said.
Ukraine's air defense shot down 92 of the 102 drones Russia launched
overnight, the military said.
Russia maintains a significant advantage in drone numbers, regularly
deploying hundreds in a single attack.
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