At dawn, just hours before Russia’s Victory Day parade, explosions rang out over the Ukrainian capital.
The windows of the buildings shook under the shock wave of the intercepted missiles.
It becomes a nighttime event after what looked like a lull in attacks on towns and villages.
And it’s extremely annoying.
Last war in Ukraine – Russia faces “imminent defeat”
President Volodymyr Zelenskywho was meeting the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyensaid it was another desperate sign that Russia’s war was failing.
“The number of missiles is increasing. But in my opinion, in the Russian Federation, the political-military authority has to sell something to their society. Because they don’t get anything, and their society wants something radical and they support it, like the number of victims. They still support it.
The strikes here have been going on for months now, but they have failed to break the resolve of this nation.
But the latest salvos come against the backdrop of an imminent Ukrainian counter-offensive.
His army received large quantities of Western ammunition and equipment, including tanks and armored vehicles.
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Russia holds ‘reduced’ Victory Day parade
Many of the units that will be fighting are still training for the upcoming assault and they are optimistic about their ability to win.
We joined Georgian fighters at a secret location in Kyiv as they honed their urban combat skills.
People look at a building damaged by a drone that was shot down, during a Russian strike in Kyiv
Their drone operator told us they were almost ready for active duty.
Learn more:
Reduced 2023 Victory Day Parade in Russia compared to previous years
Putin’s ‘grotesque fictions’ exposed on very different VE Day
“We are in good spirits, very motivated and training. We have exercises for up to four hours a day. We are ready in our hearts and souls to start the operations that we already have to start. It’s time to start the counter-offensive and recover all Ukrainian territories.”
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reacts standing in a Kyiv apartment building damaged by a drone shot down in a Russian strike
But a breakthrough will not be easy. Frontline movement has been measured in meters for months.
Analysis of satellite images shows that Russia used this time to build long defenses on the front line.
The first attack could come in the south, where Ukraine could try to breach the Russian land bridge to Crimea.
But Ukraine knows that success is vital.
His counteroffensive may be his only chance to change the dynamics on the battlefield and secure continued Western support.
