Russia Launches Massive Drone Strike on Ukraine

Russia conducted a large-scale drone strike across Ukraine on Wednesday, killing at least six people and injuring dozens, including children. The attacks targeted approximately 20 regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kharkiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that more than 800 drones were launched throughout the day.

The strikes came hours after a previous deadly barrage and just as a three-day US-brokered ceasefire expired late on Monday. Both Russia and Ukraine had accused each other of extensive battlefield violations during the truce, which was announced by US President Donald Trump ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebrations.

In Kyiv, an apartment building was demolished, killing seven people, including a 12-year-old girl, according to Zelenskyy. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the death toll and noted that dozens were injured in the attack. Other cities under fire included Odesa, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Kharkiv.

The scaled-back Victory Day parade on Red Square was overseen by Russian President Vladimir Putin under heavy security measures amid reports of fears over potential Ukrainian assassination attempts and internal coup plotting. According to sources cited by Daily Mail, the Kremlin admitted to boosting security for Putin due to threats from Ukraine, with additional measures implemented 'given the rather complex operational situation against the backdrop of the terrorist threat posed by the Kyiv regime.' This comes as a Western intelligence agency reported that Putin has been living in bunkers for weeks, fearing drone attacks by members of his own political elite.

The Kremlin dismissed speculation about a coup attempt, with Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioning the existence of 'European intelligence' and attributing the increased security to Ukrainian threats. However, reports from Daily Mail suggest that former defense minister Sergei Shoigu is associated with the risk of a coup, as he retains significant influence within the military high command. The report also details heightened security measures around Putin, including surveillance systems in staffers' homes and restrictions on their movements.

The Kremlin released a video of Vladimir Putin driving in Moscow and meeting an old school teacher in a hotel lobby, after Western media outlets cited a European intelligence ​report as saying the Russian president spent weeks holed up in bunkers. The reports suggested security around him had been sharply tightened and that he spent weeks on ​end directing the war in Ukraine from underground bunkers because of fears of an attempted assassination ​or coup.

During the Victory Day speech in Red Square, Putin justified Russia's war in Ukraine, denouncing NATO and portraying Ukraine as an 'aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato.' Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel and a few world leaders, Putin commemorated the sacrifices of USSR soldiers during World War Two and celebrated the contributions of Russian citizens to the war effort. The parade was notably scaled back this year, with no armored vehicles or ballistic missiles displayed, marking a departure from previous years' grand displays of military hardware.

Amid the heightened tensions, Russia and Ukraine agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire ahead of the celebrations, announced by US President Donald Trump. However, both countries have accused each other of extensive battlefield violations since the announcement. The scaled-back parade and increased security measures reflect the current 'operational situation,' with Russian officials citing the need for tanks and missiles on the battlefield rather than on display in Red Square.

The strikes came hours after a previous deadly barrage and just as a three-day US-brokered ceasefire expired late on Monday. Both Russia and Ukraine had accused each other of extensive battlefield violations during the truce, which was announced by US President Donald Trump ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebrations.