New Drone Attacks Reported in Moscow Ahead of WWII Commemoration

As Moscow prepares for its significant commemoration of the victory over Nazi Germany, the city has reported new drone attacks originating from Ukraine. On the night of May 5, Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that at least 18 unmanned aerial vehicles had been targeted at the capital but were intercepted by air defense systems.

Debris from one of the drones fell onto a highway; however, initial reports indicate there were no severe damages or injuries. Additionally, Ukrainian drones were reportedly intercepted over the regions of Voronezh and Penza, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties from those incidents.

In response to the potential threat, flight operations at four major airports in Moscow--Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky--were temporarily suspended. This precautionary measure was confirmed by the Russian news agency TASS, citing the aviation authority Rosaviatsiya. Moreover, flights at airports in Kaluga, Saratov, and Volgograd, located between 200 and 1,000 kilometers from Moscow, were also halted for safety reasons.

This incident follows a similar report on May 5, where Russian authorities claimed a Ukrainian drone attack had occurred. Verification of these claims remains challenging due to the ongoing conflict.

On May 9, Russia will commemorate the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany. The event is expected to attract numerous international dignitaries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In a related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a three-day ceasefire coinciding with the commemorative activities. However, Ukraine has dismissed this move as a deceptive tactic, urging for a more extended truce of at least 30 days to pave the way for potential negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict.

Simultaneously, Ukraine has reported a drone attack by Russian forces targeting the city of Kharkiv, with local officials indicating that a residential building was engulfed in flames. Details regarding casualties from this incident have yet to be released.

The ongoing conflict has seen Ukraine defending itself against the Russian invasion for over three years, during which Ukrainian forces have also launched counterattacks into Russian territory. The scale of casualties and destruction on the Ukrainian side remains significantly higher compared to the consequences of Ukrainian retaliatory strikes.