THE Russia launched today the biggest in months attack her with swarms drones in Ukrainethe eve of May 9, the Russian anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

Ukraine celebrated Victory Day today, along with the rest of Europe, symbolically separating its position from Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky compared Ukrainian forces fighting the Russians to those who fought the Nazis.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Russia launched 60 Iranian-made kamikaze drones at targets in Ukraine – 36 of them aimed at the capital and all were shot down. Debris fell on apartments and other buildings, injuring at least five people in the city, three in Solomianski and two more in Sviatosin. Explosions were heard throughout the night in the city.

Kyiv’s military administration said drone debris fell on the runway of Zhulyani Airport, one of the city’s two civilian airports. Debris also damaged a two-story building in the central Shevchenkivskiy district.

A food warehouse was engulfed in flames in Odessa after being hit by a missile. Local officials said three people were injured. The Red Cross clarified that all humanitarian aid stored in this 1,000 square meter warehouse was destroyed.

This was the largest swarm of drones Russia has sent in the aerial operation it launched 10 days ago, following a pause since early March.

Kiev also says Moscow is making a last-ditch effort to capture the devastated city of Bakhmut so that President Vladimir Putin can receive his only prize from the costly winter offensive in Ukraine in time for tomorrow’s celebrations.

Sirens sounded for hours in almost two-thirds of Ukraine. Local media reported that explosions were heard in Kherson and Zaporizhia, in the southeast.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-appointed Zaporizhia official, said Russian forces hit a warehouse and a Ukrainian army post in the town of Orihiv. Reuters was unable to verify this claim. The also Russian-appointed governor of Zaporizhia province, Yevgeny Balitsky, said about 3,000 civilians had been evacuated from areas near the front line that were shelled. Zaporizhia is one of the areas where Ukrainian forces could launch a counterattack.