• Drone strikes in Kyiv lead to two fatalities and multiple injuries.
• President Putin proposes a three-day ceasefire for the Victory Day parade.
• Ukraine dismisses the ceasefire as a tactic to protect Moscow's parade.
• Major airports in Moscow experience temporary closures due to air defense actions.

Intense fighting continues between Ukraine and Russia as drone strikes rain down on both capitals, resulting in two deaths and several injuries in Kyiv. The strikes come just a day before a proposed ceasefire coinciding with Russia's Victory Day celebrations, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that an explosion in the Shevchenkivskyi district led to casualties and injuries, including four children, due to falling debris from the attacks, which have prompted air defense responses throughout the city, according to BBC, Times of India, and New York Times.

The Kremlin announced a unilateral ceasefire beginning Wednesday night, intended to coincide with the Victory Day parade, which includes attendance from multiple foreign leaders, including China's President Xi Jinping. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the ceasefire proposal as insufficient for genuine peace, calling it merely a tactic by President Putin to shield the events of the parade from Ukrainian attacks. Zelensky has instead advocated for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, a proposal reportedly supported by U.S. officials, according to BBC, Times of India, and New York Times.

In the lead-up to the ceasefire, Russian drone defense systems were reportedly engaged as attacks on Moscow intensified, resulting in closures at major airports, including Sheremetyevo. The extent of these retaliatory strikes has disrupted air travel significantly, as incoming flight schedules were altered to ensure civilian safety amid war tensions. Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that air defenses intercepted numerous drones before they could cause damage, yet Kyiv claims their actions are a necessary response to unrelenting Russian aggression, according to BBC, Times of India, and New York Times.