Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv early Tuesday, marking the fifth aerial attack on Ukraine’s capital this month and coinciding with Russia’s World War II Victory Day holiday.
President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech at the Red Square military parade despite heightened security concerns, vowing to pursue his invasion and accusing his enemies of seeking to dismember Russia. Authorities canceled or scaled back plans for events marking the holiday and banned the use of drones after the incident at the Kremlin last week.
Ukrainian Army Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi said air-defense forces had destroyed 23 out of 25 Russian cruise missiles launched at the country late Monday and early Tuesday from the Black Sea area and from aircraft operating out of the Caspian region.
Key Developments
- Putin Vows Victory in Ukraine at WWII Parade Amid Tight Security
- Russia Is Trying to Erase Ukrainian Identity in Occupied Areas
- Ukraine Should Get Concrete Path to Join NATO, Estonia Says
- EU Proposes Curbs on Several Chinese Firms for Aiding Russia
(All times CET)
Putin Seeks to Cement Support for War (10 a.m.)
“A real war has once again been unleashed against our Motherland,” Putin said in a brief speech at the start of Tuesday’s parade.
Seeking to cement public support for his attack on Ukraine, he claimed troops at the front have the fate of Russia in their hands. The display of military equipment this year was smaller than in the past, with fewer tanks and no flyover by warplanes and helicopters.
Von der Leyen in Kyiv to Meet Zelenskiy (9 a.m.)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Von der Leyen said in a tweet that it was a fitting place to celebrate Europe Day and “where the values we hold dear are defended everyday.”
Zelenskiy Discusses De-Mining Ukraine (10 p.m.)
Zelenskiy held meetings Monday with his officials to discuss how to deal with mines and unexploded ordnance which he said affects “more than 170,000 square kilometers” of Ukrainian territory.
“They say it will take decades to deal with such a threat,” the Ukrainian leader said in his evening address. “We have to do it much faster,” he added, saying Ukraine will “cooperate with everyone in the world who has the experience, who has the technology, who has the financial capacity to support us to make Ukraine clear of Russian mines again.”
