For the second night in a row, Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow, disrupting flights at multiple airports just days before Russia’s Victory Day parade, which is expected to be attended by global leaders including China’s President Xi Jinping.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on Tuesday that at least 19 drones were shot down near the capital. This followed an earlier attack on Monday night, when Russian air defenses intercepted four drones.
Though no serious injuries or major damage were reported, falling debris landed on a major highway. Russian aviation officials temporarily halted flights at four airports in and around Moscow as a precaution. Some flight operations have since resumed.
Russia’s defense ministry said a total of 105 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across the country overnight.
The strikes come ahead of a state visit by Chinese President Xi, who is expected to participate in Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations. The Kremlin has also confirmed that 29 other world leaders will attend, including Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vietnam’s President To Lam, and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. India, Nicaragua, and South Africa will be represented by senior delegations.
Victory Day is one of the most important events on President Vladimir Putin’s calendar. The annual military parade in Red Square honors the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II and commemorates the loss of more than 25 million Soviet lives.
Ukraine has urged foreign governments not to send military representatives to the event. Its foreign ministry said such participation would be seen as “sharing responsibility for the blood of Ukrainian children, civilians, and military personnel.”
According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, troops from 13 countries — including China, Egypt, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan — are set to march in the parade.
However, Russia has canceled some local celebrations. Parades in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea, and the southern city of Krasnodar were called off due to security concerns. Regional leaders cited nightly air raid threats and the risk to civilians attending the events.
Kyiv Rejects Putin’s Ceasefire Proposal
Last month, Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire for Victory Day. While the Kremlin insists the offer remains valid, Ukraine has dismissed it. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the proposal as a “theatrical performance” meant to improve Russia’s global image. He has called for a longer ceasefire of at least 30 days.
Since Putin’s ceasefire announcement on April 29, Ukraine says Russian forces have launched nearly 1,900 attacks. According to Ukrainian officials, these strikes have killed at least 46 civilians and injured more than 330.
In one recent attack, a Russian missile hit the outskirts of Sumy in central Ukraine, killing three people, including a six-year-old boy. Eight others were wounded, two critically.
Tensions with China and Growing Drone Use
President Zelensky has also demanded answers from China after claiming Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia. He said more Chinese fighters may be involved. Beijing denied the claims and warned its citizens not to participate in any armed conflict.
Ukraine has been using drones more frequently to compensate for its disadvantage in manpower and resources. On Saturday, it claimed to have shot down a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea using a sea-based drone — a first in the war.
Ukrainian forces also reportedly maintain a presence in Russia’s Kursk region, days after Moscow claimed to have fully reclaimed the area.
As fighting continues and diplomatic tensions rise, the chances for meaningful peace talks remain slim. The White House has again called for a permanent ceasefire, but negotiations have largely stalled.
President Zelensky warned world leaders visiting Russia this week that Ukraine “cannot be responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation” amid the ongoing war.
