In a statement, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation said Ukrainian forces continued attacks using drones and artillery despite the temporary truce announced by Russia.

“Despite the declaration of a ceasefire, Ukrainian armed groups continued to launch attacks using drones and artillery against the positions of our troops, as well as against civilian targets in the border areas of the Belgorod and Kursk regions,” the ministry said.

“Despite the declaration of a ceasefire, Ukrainian armed groups continued to launch attacks using drones and artillery against the positions of our troops, as well as against civilian targets in the border areas of the Belgorod and Kursk regions,” the ministry said.

The ministry said Russian forces responded “in kind” to the alleged violations, carrying out strikes against artillery systems, mortar positions, command centers and drone launch sites operated by Ukrainian forces.

The ceasefire had been announced by Moscow to coincide with ceremonies commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, one of Russia’s most symbolically important national observances.The statement did not specify the scale of the reported attacks or provide casualty figures.

Border regions including Belgorod and Kursk have faced repeated drone strikes and shelling during the conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Kyiv has previously questioned the sincerity of temporary Russian ceasefire announcements, accusing Moscow of continuing military operations during declared pauses in fighting.

Neither side’s battlefield claims could be independently verified.

In a diplomatic note sent to foreign embassies and international organizations on Wednesday, Moscow said it would carry out “retaliatory strikes,” including against “decision-making centers” in Kyiv, should Ukraine attempt attacks linked to the commemorations.

Russia urged diplomatic missions to “ensure the timely evacuation of personnel from diplomatic and other missions, as well as citizens, from the city of Kyiv.”Ukraine did not immediately respond to the warning.The threat comes amid heightened tensions surrounding Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations, a major state event commemorating the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War Two.

Earlier this week, Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire for May 8-9 to coincide with the commemorations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the move and proposed a separate ceasefire beginning May 6, which Kyiv said Moscow ignored.Zelensky suggested earlier this week that Russia feared potential Ukrainian drone activity over Moscow during the parade.

In his nightly address on Wednesday, he accused Russia of continuing attacks despite Kyiv’s proposed truce and said Ukraine would “respond in kind.”Ukrainian officials reported multiple Russian strikes throughout Wednesday, including attacks in the northern Sumy region where local authorities said at least two people were killed at a kindergarten.

Overall, officials reported at least four deaths in attacks across the country.Military officers stationed on the eastern front told AFP that combat activity had continued at existing intensity levels despite ceasefire discussions.“The enemy continued to carry out infantry raids and attempts to storm our positions,” one Ukrainian officer said on condition of anonymity, adding that Ukrainian forces had responded to Russian attacks.

Another frontline commander said fighting remained unchanged, describing the military response as “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”Russia’s defense ministry said it intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones overnight between 2100 GMT and 0700 GMT, a lower number than reported in previous days.

The ministry did not specify whether any attacks occurred after Kyiv’s proposed ceasefire deadline.The conflict has intensified in recent weeks with both sides carrying out strikes deep behind front lines. On Tuesday, Ukrainian drone attacks reportedly killed two people in the Russian city of Cheboksary along the Volga River, hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine’s border.Security measures in Moscow have tightened ahead of Friday’s parade.

Russian authorities have announced intermittent citywide internet shutdowns and said military hardware would be removed from the parade for the first time in nearly two decades.Diplomatic efforts to end the war, now in its fifth year, have shown limited progress.

Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine withdraw from four regions claimed by Russia, conditions Kyiv has rejected.

Regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said in a statement on social media that 38 drones were intercepted overnight and that the port, located on the Gulf of Finland, sustained fresh damage for the third time in a week.

He did not specify the extent of the damage.Repeated strikes on export hubUst-Luga is a major node for Russian exports of fertilizers, oil and coal, and has been targeted multiple times in recent days.

Russian authorities previously reported fires at the port following drone strikes on Sunday and Wednesday.The latest attack underscores growing pressure on infrastructure tied to Russia’s export revenues, which Kyiv has increasingly targeted as part of its military strategy.

Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone operations against Russian facilities, including refineries, oil depots and ports. Officials in Kyiv say such strikes are intended to disrupt revenue streams that support Moscow’s military campaign.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has defended the attacks as a proportionate response to Russia’s offensive, though Ukrainian authorities did not immediately comment on the latest incident.

Efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have faltered, with talks between Moscow and Kyiv, brokered by the United States, losing momentum. Diplomatic attention has been diverted by intensifying hostilities in the Middle East, further complicating prospects for de-escalation in the four-year war.

Russia has not provided additional operational details on the overnight interceptions or potential disruptions to port activity.