MOSCOW, May 10 (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that Ukraine had violated a ceasefire by launching drones and artillery strikes against Russian troops, Interfax news agency reported.

Russia has fired dozens of drones at Ukraine, ignoring a unilateral ceasefire announced by Kyiv. Ukrainian officials reported the attacks on Wednesday.

Ukraine's military and regional officials on Monday reported Russian drone strikes and battlefield clashes over the past 24 hours, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Russian air defenses shot down 347 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday, in what appeared to be a major attack after Moscow spurned Kyiv’s ceasefire earlier in the week and tension mounted over safety at Russia’s upcoming Victory Day celebrations.

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was due to expire Monday with both sides accusing each other of breaching the 72-hour arrangement, as American and European officials considered how they might steer the warring countries into further talks.

A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was due to expire Monday with both sides accusing each other of breaching the 72-hour arrangement, as American and European officials considered how they might steer the warring countries into further talks.

Russia launched a series of large-scale attacks on Ukraine this week, firing more than 1,000 drones in the last 36 hours, as Moscow launches a new campaign on the battlefield.

Kyiv is forcing Moscow to choose whether to devote air defense resources to defending the Russian homeland or occupied Crimea.

As Victory Day truce ends, Ukraine explores possible scenarios of Russian attacks and battlefield vulnerabilities , World News, Times Now

In Ukraine's southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia, a three-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow expiring later on Monday brought little respite to residents exhausted by more than four years of