Russia did not feel the need to respond to a Ukrainian proposal for a ceasefire starting on Wednesday, the Kremlin said on Thursday, amid uncertainty whether fighting would be halted this week after both sides announced conflicting ceasefires.
Russia said on Monday that it would observe a ceasefire on May 8 and May 9, to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky then proposed his own truce from Wednesday (2100 GMT Tuesday), though it soon became clear that Russia did not pay heed to his call and both sides continued to trade attacks on Thursday.
Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov said Russia would stick to its proposed two-day ceasefire later this week.
Asked how Moscow had reacted to Kiev's ceasefire proposal, he said: "There was no reaction from the Russian side."
Zelensky slams ongoing Russian strikes
Zelensky justified ongoing Ukrainian drones attacks targeting Russia despite his self-imposed truce with Moscow's refusal to pause hostilities.
"We proposed a ceasefire starting at midnight on May 6," he wrote on X. "Yesterday and today, Russia has violated this ceasefire regime. In a mirror response to Russian strikes, we will continue our long-range sanctions."
He added: "In response to Russia’s willingness to move toward diplomacy, we will proceed along the path of diplomacy."
"Russia continues to kill people while being completely irrationally obsessed with only a few hours of silence in one part of Moscow," he said, referring to the Victory Day parade to be held in the Russian capital on Saturday, commemorating the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany.
Major Ukrainian drone assault
Ukrainian drones managed to again target the city of Perm overnight, located deep in Russian territory, more than 1,500 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, Zelensky said.
Regional Governor Dmitry Makhonin confirmed that an industrial company was targeted, with a residential building sustaining damage during the attack.
Last week, Ukrainian drones set fire to an oil pumping station near Perm.
Earlier on Thursday, the Russian Defence Ministry said 347 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight, one of the highest tallies in the four-year war. It said almost all regions in western and central Russia were affected.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported on Telegram that 11 drones were shot down as they approached the capital.
According to the Telegram channel Baza, damage to buildings was reported from the town of Rzhev, north-west of Moscow, among other places.
Russian attacks also continue
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force issued a warning early on Thursday about enemy drones over the regions of Odessa, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Sumy.
In addition, a ballistic missile was reportedly fired at the industrial city of Dnipro, where military governor Olexander Hanzha reported a fire and damage to a food processing plant.
The Ukrainian Air Force detected 102 Russian drones overnight, 92 of which were reportedly intercepted. There were reports of strikes at six locations, with injuries reported in Kharkiv and Kherson.
It remains unclear whether Ukraine will commit to the two-day ceasefire proposed by the Kremlin from Friday.
Russia has threatened to retaliate if Kiev attempts to disrupt the celebrations in Moscow, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova urging foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital in advance.