In a bold escalation just days before Russia’s highly symbolic Victory Day parade, Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on Moscow for the second consecutive night, prompting a temporary halt in operations at four major airports. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that 19 drones were intercepted near the capital, with debris falling on major highways but no casualties reported. The Russian Defense Ministry stated a total of 105 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across the country. The attack coincides with preparations for the May 9 parade, which marks the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany and is expected to be attended by several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Victory Day holds immense political and emotional significance for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who uses the occasion to project strength and patriotic unity. This year, amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin announced a three-day unilateral ceasefire citing “humanitarian considerations.” However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the move as insufficient and called for a longer, meaningful truce. He also criticized the international leaders attending the Moscow parade, warning that Ukraine cannot guarantee safety within Russian borders due to the active war. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s stance of not facilitating a “pleasant atmosphere” for Putin’s symbolic moment.

Tensions between Ukraine and Russia continue to grow, with Kyiv increasingly relying on drone technology to counter Russia’s military superiority. Ukraine recently claimed the successful destruction of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea using a seaborne drone—reportedly a first of its kind. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces reportedly maintain a presence in Russia’s Kursk region despite Moscow’s declaration of control. The situation is further complicated by claims from Zelensky about captured Chinese fighters in Ukraine, a charge Beijing has denied while urging its citizens not to take part in any foreign conflict.