Russia warned foreign diplomats in Kyiv that it would attack the city if Ukraine disrupted World War II commemorations in Moscow this weekend, as attacks from both sides continued into Thursday.
Russia and Ukraine traded strikes on Thursday, wounding 13 people in the Russian border city of Bryansk and one person in Ukraine’s Dnipro, officials from both sides said.
Russia marks World War II Victory Day each year on May 9 with a massive military parade through Red Square.
The country this week declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine between May 8 and 9 to coincide with the commemorations.
In a note to foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations Wednesday, Russia warned it would launch a “retaliatory strike” on the Ukrainian capital, “including against decision-making centres”, if Ukraine disrupted the commemorations this Saturday.
It urged them to “ensure the timely evacuation of personnel from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, from the city of Kyiv”.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that it had shot down 347 Ukrainian drones across the country, particularly in the Moscow region.
Ukrainian airstrikes injured 13 people and damaged residential buildings in Bryansk, located about 100 kilometers from the border, according to local authorities. (AFP)
