Throughout the night, Russia launched drone, missile, and air strikes against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, escalating its attacks before its venerated Victory Day holiday, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany.
It was one of the largest volleys of missiles and drones in a Russian air campaign that resumed ten days ago following a hiatus since early March.
Russia Steps Up Attacks in Ukraine
Kyiv reported that Moscow was also making a last-ditch effort to capture the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut in time for the holiday, which would be the sole prize of a costly Russian winter offensive.
The military reported that 16 missiles struck the Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions within the last 24 hours, in addition to 61 strikes and 52 rocket salvos against Ukrainian positions and populated areas.
Moscow is preparing for Tuesday's Victory Day spectacle, the most important day in the Russian calendar under Russian President Vladimir Putin, who justifies his invasion of Ukraine by citing the 1945 Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
Ukraine, which as part of the former Soviet Union suffered more per capita casualties than Russia in the war against the Fascists and was the epicenter of the Holocaust, declared May 8 to be Victory Day instead of May 9 - an evident attempt to distinguish its observance of the day from that of Russia.
According to Reuters, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "Recalling the heroism of millions of Ukrainians in that conflict against Nazism, we see the same heroism in the actions of our soldiers today."
Ukraine and its allies contend that the accusation was a pretext for Russia's unprovoked invasion in February 2022, which resulted in the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the exodus of millions.
After Russia's Wagner mercenary group appeared to abandon plans to withdraw from Bakhmut, Russia stepped up its bombardment to capture it by Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian general in charge of the city's defense.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on Telegram that three people were injured in explosions in the Solomyanskyi district, and two were injured when drone debris fell in the Sviatoshyn district, both west of the capital's center.
The military administration of Kyiv reported that drone debris landed on a runway at one of the two passenger airports in the capital, attracting emergency services despite the absence of a fire.
Separately, Russian forces bombarded eight locations in Sumy in northeastern Ukraine on Sunday, according to a Facebook post by the regional military administration.
Over the past two weeks, attacks on Russian-held targets have intensified, particularly in Crimea. Ukraine has not affirmed a role in these attacks, but it has stated that the destruction of hostile infrastructure is preparation for its long-awaited ground offensive, as per NY Post.
Russia Concerned Over Domestic Security Threat
Russia's inability to make gains in Ukraine tarnishes the image of its army's invincibility, despite the formidable weapons that will roar through the square.
After capturing large portions of the neighboring country during the initial weeks of the invasion, the Russians could not capture Bakhmut, a city of dubious importance, despite months of fierce combat.
Per MSN, analysts disagree whether the May 3 incident involving a drone at the Kremlin was an actual attack. Two freight trains derailed last week due to explosive detonation in the bordering Ukrainian region of Bryansk.
However, regional authorities did not hold Ukraine responsible for the incident. In March, however, Bryansk authorities claimed that two persons were shot and slain when alleged Ukrainian saboteurs infiltrated the region. The region has also been subject to sporadic cross-border bombardment, including four deaths last month.
Additionally, three prominent supporters of the conflict in Ukraine were slain or injured on Russian soil. Officials blamed Ukraine and the United States for last week's car bombing in the Nizhny Novgorod region, severely injuring nationalist novelist Zakhar Prilepin and murdered his chauffeur.
Darya Dugina, a commentator for a nationalist TV channel, was killed in a car bombing outside of Moscow in 2014, and Ukrainian intelligence was blamed for the April death of prominent pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky in St. Petersburg, who was killed when a bomb in a statuette he was given at a restaurant party exploded.
Authorities also canceled one of Victory Day's most notable events, the "Immortal Regiment" processions. Thousands of citizens parade through the streets carrying portraits of relatives who perished or served in World War II.
