The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, decided to temporarily halt military operations for three days in connection with Victory Day, despite official reports from Ukraine about attacks carried out by Russia.
According to information disseminated by the Ukrainian Air Force through its official Telegram channel, on the night of May 8, during the transition to Thursday, air bombs controlled by Russian tactical aviation were used in the Sumy region. It was also emphasized that there is a high probability of using air weapons in several regions located near the front of the country, and the threat still persists.
So far, no official information has been released regarding losses or damages resulting from the attacks. However, Ukrainian military personnel assess the military activities employed by Russia as dangerous.
At the same time, it was noted that no drones belonging to Russia were detected in the Ukrainian sky that night. The Ukrainian side also reported that this time there was no mass attack on Russian territories through drones, only separate reports of unmanned aerial vehicle movements were made.
Specifically, the head of Lipetsk region, Igor Artamonov, warned about the threat of a drone attack on the night of May 8. According to his statement, measures are being taken to prevent the threat.
Additionally, the airport located in Nizhny Novgorod was temporarily closed at 04:30 on May 8 "to ensure flight safety," as reported by the Federal Air Transport Agency. This measure was taken due to a previous mass attack directed at Russia and Moscow by Ukrainian drones. These attacks caused serious disruptions in the operations of Russian airports, affecting at least 60,000 passengers.
For reference, the temporary ceasefire agreement announced by Vladimir Putin was supposed to start at 00:00 Moscow time on May 8 and last until 00:00 on May 11. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected this proposal. He stated that Kyiv is only ready for a complete and clear peace for at least 30 days.
In summary, significant efforts are still required for peace initiatives dedicated to Victory Day to turn into real practical steps. It is evident that the different approaches of both sides will have a serious impact on the outcome of battles and the peace process.
