A second consecutive night of Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow has heightened tensions ahead of Russia’s 9 May Victory Day parade, prompting temporary closures of airports and intensified security across the capital.
Russian officials confirmed that at least 19 drones targeted the city from multiple directions late Monday night, disrupting air travel and striking near residential areas.
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Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said emergency services were responding to several sites where drone debris had fallen, including along major highways. Though no casualties were reported, social media channels linked to Russian security sources indicated that at least one drone hit an apartment building, shattering windows.
Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, temporarily suspended flights at all four of Moscow’s main airports, while regional airports were also briefly shut down in response to the escalating threat.
In the Voronezh region, bordering Ukraine in south-western Russia, officials reported a separate wave of at least 18 drones. Meanwhile, Moscow’s internet services faced widespread disruptions, and the state-run Tass news agency confirmed that critical infrastructure had been placed under heightened protection. Air defence systems were reportedly repositioned to shield the capital in anticipation of further attacks.
The drone assaults come just days before Russia’s annual Victory Day commemoration, which this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. The highly symbolic event is expected to draw about two dozen foreign dignitaries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Ukrainian officials have not publicly claimed responsibility for the strikes. However, the campaign appears to be aimed at undermining the Kremlin’s image of control ahead of the celebratory parade.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire from 8 to 10 May, ostensibly to ensure peace during the commemorations. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the offer as “unserious” and “self-serving,” arguing that any meaningful truce must last at least 30 days, in line with a U.S.-backed proposal.
In a warning issued earlier this week, Zelenskyy said Ukraine “cannot bear responsibility for what happens” to foreign leaders attending the parade, further fueling security concerns. In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Zelenskyy of issuing direct threats, while former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ominously declared that “10 May may not come for Kyiv” if provocations occurred.
Meanwhile, fighting has flared on Russia’s western front. Ukraine’s military reported active combat in the Kursk region over the past 24 hours, directly contradicting Moscow’s claims of repelling a Ukrainian incursion. In a Telegram update, Ukrainian forces said they had resisted Russian attacks and endured heavy shelling and airstrikes.
Local Russian officials also appeared to confirm Ukraine’s presence. Vasily Khudyakov, the head of Glushkovo in Kursk, announced on Monday that all residents were being evacuated due to the deteriorating security situation.
“Due to the worsening situation in the village, residents currently there must temporarily evacuate,” Khudyakov wrote online.
While international leaders weigh Moscow’s limited ceasefire proposal, the battlefield tells a different story, one of continued violence, mounting uncertainty, and a growing sense that this year’s Victory Day may be overshadowed by the war still raging at Russia’s borders
