Ceasefire Bid Falters Under Drone Fire Arabian Post

(MENAFN- The Arabian Post) clearfix">Russia and Ukraine traded large-scale drone attacks as a Moscow-declared Victory Day ceasefire took effect, deepening doubts over whether either side would observe the temporary halt in fighting around one of Russia's most politically charged national commemorations.

Moscow said its air defences destroyed 264 Ukrainian drones in the early hours of Friday, including aircraft aimed at the capital and targets in Russia's Perm region. The claims followed a day of disruption in and around Moscow, where authorities reported more than 50 inbound drones intercepted and emergency teams were sent to inspect debris sites. Airport operations were repeatedly affected, while security around the capital was tightened before the May 9 Victory Day events.

Ukraine said Russia had continued its own aerial campaign despite ceasefire claims, with its air force reporting that 92 of 102 Russian drones launched since the evening of May 6 had been intercepted. Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks had also included shelling and frontline assault activity, undermining the credibility of Moscow's temporary truce.

Russia's Defence Ministry announced the halt in hostilities from midnight on May 8 through May 10 to mark the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. President Vladimir Putin had framed the ceasefire as a symbolic gesture tied to the anniversary, but Kyiv dismissed it as an attempt to shield Moscow's parade rather than a serious opening for de-escalation.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier backed a separate ceasefire proposal beginning May 6, arguing that a genuine pause should not be limited to the Victory Day window. Moscow did not accept Kyiv's broader proposal, and both capitals have since accused the other of using ceasefire language while maintaining military pressure.

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The escalation has placed the ceasefire dispute at the centre of the war's diplomatic track. Peace efforts remain stalled despite pressure for negotiations, and the rival truce proposals have underlined the gulf between the two sides' aims. Moscow wants a symbolic pause linked to domestic commemoration; Kyiv wants a broader ceasefire that could test whether Russia is prepared to halt attacks beyond a ceremonial timetable.

The attacks also showed the widening reach of Ukraine's long-range drone campaign. Ukrainian operations have increasingly targeted Russian energy and industrial facilities, including sites far from the border. Strikes reported in Perm, Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg underscored Kyiv's ability to threaten infrastructure deep inside Russia, even as Moscow retains an advantage in missiles, glide bombs and mass drone launches against Ukrainian cities.

Moscow has treated the threat to Victory Day events as a major security challenge. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said protective measures for Putin had been strengthened, while officials prepared for scaled-back military displays. Authorities also planned restrictions on mobile internet access in Moscow, a measure linked to drone defence and public security around the parade.

Russia's Foreign Ministry also warned diplomatic missions in Kyiv to be prepared for potential retaliatory strikes if Ukraine attempted to disrupt Victory Day commemorations. The warning added to concerns that symbolic dates could bring a sharper cycle of action and counteraction, particularly as both sides seek to shape public perception at home and abroad.

Ukraine, for its part, has argued that Russian forces are using ceasefire declarations as political theatre while continuing to attack civilian areas and frontline positions. Officials in Kyiv say a meaningful ceasefire would require verifiable restraint across the battlefield, not a narrow pause tied to a Kremlin anniversary. Moscow says it reserves the right to respond to Ukrainian strikes during the declared truce.

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The war has entered a phase in which drone warfare is shaping both battlefield tactics and political messaging. Low-cost unmanned systems are being deployed in large numbers to stretch air defences, disrupt logistics, strike energy assets and generate pressure far from the front line. For Russia, the appearance of Ukrainian drones near Moscow during Victory Day preparations carries symbolic weight. For Ukraine, the ability to hit targets across Russia helps offset pressure from continuing Russian attacks on its power grid, cities and military positions.

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