• Two people were killed in Kyiv due to drone debris from air strikes.
• Russia's air defense intercepted multiple Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow.
• Both nations are preparing for a significant holiday weekend in Russia.

Russia and Ukraine launched extensive overnight air attacks on each other’s capitals, resulting in two fatalities in Kyiv. The strikes led to fires in several districts of the city, with drone debris causing significant destruction, particularly in the Shevchenkivskyi district, where two lives were lost. Four children were among at least eight people injured from these attacks, which occurred shortly after missile strikes were directed at Kyiv, as reported by SCMP and Reuters.

Moscow's airports faced disruptions due to the engagement, with Russian defense units successfully intercepting 14 Ukrainian drones, causing operational halts for essential flights. The strikes come just prior to planned celebrations for Victory Day in Russia, an event that will be attended by numerous foreign leaders, including China's President Xi Jinping. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a proposed ceasefire coinciding with the holiday weekend, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed "pointless," advocating instead for a more extended truce, according to India Times and Reuters.

The frequency of attacks has heightened as Russia prepares for the May 9 Victory Day celebrations, marking the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Reports indicate that Moscow is bracing for increased assaults as Ukraine continues to launch drones at the capital. On the night of the attacks, authorities in Ukraine confirmed that 28 drones were tracked, alongside at least one ballistic missile, signaling a severe escalation in hostilities, according to SCMP and India Times.