Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of breaching Victory Day ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating separate ceasefires declared by each side to cover the celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

The Russian defence ministry reported more than 1,000 violations in the conflict zone, while Moscow's mayor said the city had been targeted by drones since the ceasefire began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT Thursday).

Ukraine also said Russia had continued to strike its positions since that time.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May ahead of Victory Day celebrations on Saturday. Kyiv had earlier called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May.

Russia has warned Ukraine not to try to attack the Victory Day parade in Red Square.

Its defence ministry has threatened to launch a "retaliatory, massive missile strike" on the centre of Kyiv if Moscow is attacked. It has warned foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital ahead of 9 May.

Residents of Moscow and St Petersburg have also been warned their mobile internet access will be limited for security reasons.

The celebrations used to bring large numbers of foreign guests to Moscow, but this time only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos, and a few other dignitaries, will attend.

In a post on Telegram on Friday morning, the Russian defence ministry said there had been 1,365 violations of the ceasefire, including 153 artillery strikes and 887 drone strikes in the conflict zone.

It said Ukraine was also continuing to strike civilian targets in border areas of the Kursk and Belgorod regions, close to the conflict zone.

Russian armed forces provided a "mirror response" to the violations, the ministry added.

Meanwhile Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said some 20 drones had been downed near the city in just the first two hours of the ceasefire.

Ukrainian strikes were also reported on industrial sites in the Perm and Yaroslavl regions, as well as sites in the Rostov region and the Chechen capital Grozny.

Thirteen airports in southern Russia also suspended operations after a drone attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Telegram that there had been more than 140 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the first few hours of the truce, and more than 850 drone strikes.

"All of this clearly indicates that there was not even a simulated attempt from the Russian side to cease fire at the front," he said.

"Just like in the results of the past day, Ukraine will act in kind today."

On Thursday Ukraine accused Russia of breaching Kyiv's unilateral ceasefire, launching drone attacks, including on a kindergarten in Sumy region. Two people were killed in that attack, although no children were present at the time.