Russia’s Defense Ministry declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday to mark the 81st anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, but it threatened to strike back at Kyiv if it tries to disrupt the Victory Day festivities.

For the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia's annual Victory Day parade will proceed without its customary display of military equipment, the Defence Ministry has confirmed.

A drone hit a residential tower in an upscale Moscow district in a rare strike near the city center ahead of the traditional World War II Victory Day parade.

Officials in the northeastern Sumy region said two people were killed in separate Russian drone attacks on a civilian car and a kindergarten.

Russian forces launched drone and guided bomb attacks immediately after a ceasefire announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came into effect at midnight on 6 May.

Strikes on Ukrainian cities claimed the lives of at least 27 people in one of the deadliest days this year for civilians.