For the second night in a row, Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow, according to Russian officials, as the city prepares for a significant annual military parade anticipated to be attended by global leaders, including Xi Jinping of China.
Moscow’s Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported via Telegram that at least 19 Ukrainian drones were intercepted while approaching the capital overnight, following the downing of four drones by Russian air defenses the previous night. Although there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, debris from the intercepted drones fell onto a major highway, Sobyanin noted.
As a precaution, flights were halted at four of the capital’s airports, as stated by Russian aviation authorities. The drones aimed at Moscow were part of a total of 105 Ukrainian drones intercepted across Russia overnight, according to a Telegram update from the Russian Defense Ministry. This latest assault on the Russian capital occurs just before Xi’s anticipated arrival in Moscow on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, during which he will participate in the May 9 Victory Day celebrations, as per a Kremlin announcement on Sunday.
Other leaders expected to attend include Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vietnam’s President To Lam, and Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko. Victory Day holds great significance for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has historically utilized it to garner public support and showcase the nation’s military strength.
On Friday, thousands are expected to gather in Moscow’s Red Square to display patriotism in honor of the Soviet Union’s contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and to remember the over 25 million Soviet soldiers and civilians who perished during World War II.
Last month, Putin announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire in Ukraine to align with the May 9 celebrations, citing ‘humanitarian reasons.’ This declaration was met with skepticism in Ukraine and prompted the White House to reiterate its call for a ‘permanent ceasefire’ as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv to reach a resolution to the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the three-day ceasefire, stating he would only agree to a longer truce of at least 30 days. In a message directed at dignitaries attending the Victory Day celebrations in Russia, Zelensky cautioned that Kyiv ‘cannot be held accountable for events occurring on Russian territory’ due to the ongoing hostilities. He emphasized that Kyiv would not engage in ‘games’ to create a favorable environment for Putin’s emergence from isolation on May 9, as stated in his Saturday night address.
In reaction, Russia’s foreign ministry interpreted his remarks as a threat. In recent weeks, Zelensky has sought clarification from China after revealing that two Chinese fighters were captured by Ukraine in early April, claiming there were ‘many more’ among Russia’s forces. Beijing has denied any involvement and reiterated its previous calls for Chinese nationals to ‘avoid participating in military actions of any party.’
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Telegram that Russian air defenses intercepted 105 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 19 shot down over Moscow. Kyiv has increasingly relied on drones to balance the scales against Russia, which has superior manpower and resources. On Saturday, Ukraine announced it had downed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea using a seaborne drone for the first time.
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