Massive drone attack on Ukraine on the eve of May 9

Baku/08.05.23/Turan:   On the eve of Russia's May 9 holiday celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany, Russia launched its largest swarm of drones for months against Ukraine.

The renewed Russian air campaign, unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March, included the firing of 60 Iranian-made kamikaze drones at Ukrainian targets, including 36 at the capital, all of which were shot down.

A food warehouse was set ablaze by a missile in the Black Sea city of Odesa, where officials reported three people were injured.

Kyiv's mayor reported that debris hit apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people in the capital.

Moscow is preparing for Tuesday's Victory Day parade, the most important day in the calendar for Russia under President Vladimir Putin, who uses the 1945 Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany to justify his invasion of Ukraine.

In a symbolic new break with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy marked Victory Day on Monday, a day earlier than Moscow, and announced that he had signed a decree to change the date of the holiday in line with the practice of Western allies.

On the day of Russia's parade, Zelenskiy will receive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to underscore Ukraine's ambition to join the West.

Ukraine, which last year drove Russian forces back from the ramparts of the capital and recovered substantial territory, has kept its troops on the defensive for the past six months but says it is preparing a massive counteroffensive in coming weeks.