THE SQUIZ
Multiple explosions and injuries were reported in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv yesterday as large-scale Russian drone attacks were launched across the country. Reports say that 35 Iranian-made drones were destroyed by Ukraine’s air force around the capital yesterday, and air raid sirens rang out across 2/3rds of the country following attacks in Odesa and Kherson in the south and Zaporizhzhia in the east. Ukrainian military official Natalia Humeniuk says Russian forces are trying to exhaust Ukraine’s air defence systems with continual attacks. And it’s happening ahead of Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations today.

WAIT, WHAT’S VICTORY DAY?
Glad you asked… Victory Day is a big one on the Russian calendar – it marks the Soviet defeat of Germany in 1945. And it’s significant this year for a couple of reasons… You might recall that when Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he drew comparisons with what says Russians are facing from Ukraine and the West today. Ukrainian officials say that claim was a cover-up for a land grab, but experts say Putin’s likely planning to use the day to boost patriotism and support for his costly/drawn-out “special military operation” in Ukraine. But there might have been a bit of a damper put on those plans… The normally-festive Victory Day parades and events have been scaled back in several Russian cities/regions, given several drone attacks on Russian soil over the past week.

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?
Well, we mentioned the drone attacks in Zaporizhzhia earlier, and there have also been mass evacuations of the region over the past 24 hours for another reason. To explain… Russian forces captured parts of Zaporizhzhia last year, including the region’s nuclear power plant, which is the largest in Europe. At the weekend, the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency boss Rafael Grossi warned a “severe nuclear accident” could happen as Ukraine’s push to recapture Russian-held land begins and the chance of fighting near the plant intensifies. Grossi says he’s “extremely concerned about the very real nuclear safety and security risks” and said the plant needs to be protected. And in the eastern city of Bakhmut – which is at the centre of a long-running battle – the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, says they’ve gained ground. Over the weekend, he made threats to pull out of the region due to dwindling military supplies.