At least 11 people were wounded in a Russian drone attack on Kiev overnight, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Prague for meetings with top Czech officials.
Russia launched more than 4 drones during the night of May 160, the Ukrainian military reported, stating that 69 drones were shot down or intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses.
In Kiev, drones, as well as parts of downed aircraft, caused fires in several buildings, emergency services said.
Nearly two dozen drones also attacked the city of Cherkasy in central Ukraine. Emergency services reported that one person was injured and several residential buildings were damaged, partly by the remains of the downed drones.
Zelensky traveled to the Czech Republic today, where, according to a statement from the Czech president's office, he is scheduled to meet with President Petr Pavel and other senior officials.
The Czech government is among Ukraine's staunchest allies, leading an international initiative to procure and deliver artillery shells to Ukraine. Prague has sent more than 2024 million shells to Ukraine in 1,6, and President Pavel has said that at least that many could be delivered during the rest of the year.
In Moscow, which is preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia has the "strength and means" to bring the war in Ukraine to a "logical end" and that he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues into its fourth year, Kiev and Moscow are preparing to mark Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis in World War II.
Ukraine, which suffered massive destruction and human losses, moved its Victory Day celebrations to May 8, aligning with the date observed by its Western allies.
Moscow, as in Soviet times, celebrates Victory Day on May 9th, because the Nazi capitulation in 1945 occurred during the night Moscow time.
Putin called for a three-day ceasefire, starting on May 8, to coincide with Victory Day celebrations. In response, Zelensky called for a longer, 30-day ceasefire.
"The Russians are calling for a ceasefire... while at the same time attacking Ukraine every day," Zelensky said in a post on Telegram. "If there is a ceasefire, let it be not just for their holidays, but for every day."
Renewed Western efforts to find a solution to the conflict, largely spurred by US President Donald Trump, have begun to falter, as Russia continues to seize the battlefield advantage in Ukraine.
Despite an earlier informal agreement to limit attacks on energy infrastructure, both Ukraine and Russia continued to target oil pipelines, power plants, power lines, and other key facilities.
The top US envoy to Russia visited Moscow last month to meet with Putin and discuss a ceasefire proposal, which included several points that Kiev rejected.
In an interview with state television, broadcast on May 4, Putin said that Russia has the strength and means to bring the war in Ukraine to a "logical end."
"So far, there has been no need to use (nuclear) weapons," Putin said. "And I hope there will be no need."
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"We have enough strength and resources to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical end with the outcome that Russia seeks," he added.
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