Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow and several other Russian cities overnight, escalating tensions just days before Russia’s Victory Day parade.
According to Russian authorities, 105 drones were intercepted across the country. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that 19 drones were destroyed near Moscow.
As a precaution, all four of Moscow’s international airports suspended flights for several hours. Airports in Kaluga, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Kazan, and Nizhnekamsk were also affected, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
There were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties, though debris from downed drones did fall on a major highway, according to Mayor Sobyanin.
Ukrainian strike drones once again approached Moscow this afternoon.
The Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin claimed the interception of two drones by Russian air defenses.
The remains of one of the UAVs were found in the town of Noginsk, located approx. 40km northeast of the… pic.twitter.com/DJNqeKTEGY
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) May 6, 2025
This was the second night in a row that drones hit Moscow. The attacks come just before the May 9 Victory Day parade, marking 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany. The event is a major national holiday and a key political moment for President Vladimir Putin.
Russia expects leaders from 29 countries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Vietnamese President To Lam, to attend the event.
BREAKING:
A swarm of Ukrainian suicide drones is flying over Moscow, preparing to hit Russian targets.
Many foreign guests will think twice about attending the May 9th Victory Day Parade in Moscow. pic.twitter.com/NJFMV1ffIu
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 6, 2025
For the safety of the attendees, Putin has called on Ukraine to observe a ceasefire from May 8 to May 10. However, Ukraine has not agreed to the proposal.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the proposed ceasefire was just for show. He wants at least a 30-day pause in attacks, especially on civilian areas. He also warned foreign leaders that Ukraine cannot guarantee their safety while in Russia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry asked all countries to stay away from the Moscow parade.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ministry said that participating in the event would be seen as “an insult to the memory of the victory over Nazism and to the millions of Ukrainian soldiers who, eight decades ago, helped liberate our country and all of Europe from Nazi rule.”
Despite Ukraine’s warnings, Russian officials said that this year’s commemorations will be the “grandest” Victory Day celebration to date.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported the downing of 54 Russian drones overnight. The latest strikes resulted in the deaths of four people: three in Sumy and one in Odesa. In Kharkiv, a fire triggered by the attack injured 11 and destroyed the city’s central market.
Two hours of nonstop drone attacks on Kharkiv this morning — 20 hits across the city.
Barabashovo market, one of the biggest in Ukraine and Europe, is on fire.
Russia keeps targeting civilians, day after day. pic.twitter.com/mjKUsOdv1w— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) May 6, 2025
