Moscow /Kyiv, May 6 — Russia on Tuesday accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on Moscow, forcing a temporary shutdown of the capital’s major airports just days before its annual Victory Day parade commemorating the end of World War Two.
Authorities said air defences intercepted at least 19 drones approaching Moscow from multiple directions. While no casualties were reported, falling debris disrupted traffic on key highways. Ukrainian officials have not commented on the incident, which follows a similar attack the previous night.
The drone strikes come as the Kremlin prepares for the May 9 parade marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. This year’s event — the 80th anniversary — is expected to draw global attention, with Chinese President Xi Jinping among the foreign leaders scheduled to attend.
President Vladimir Putin has announced a unilateral three-day ceasefire beginning May 8 to coincide with the celebrations. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the proposal, describing it as a “theatrical play” and calling instead for a longer truce of at least 30 days that includes a halt to strikes on civilian areas.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that any Ukrainian failure to observe the ceasefire would prompt “an appropriate response.”
Ukraine’s foreign ministry urged all foreign states to refrain from allowing military personnel to participate in the Moscow parade, calling any such involvement “an insult to the memory of millions of Ukrainian soldiers who liberated Europe from Nazism.”
Meanwhile, hostilities remain active along several fronts. Ukraine reported downing 54 Russian drones overnight, with strikes hitting multiple regions, including the capital Kyiv. At least four civilians were killed — three in the northern Sumy region and one in the southern port city of Odesa.
In Kharkiv, 11 people were injured and the city’s central market was destroyed in a large fire. Four more were wounded in the southern city of Nikopol, local officials said.
Russia’s border region of Kursk also saw ongoing clashes, more than a week after Moscow claimed to have expelled Ukrainian troops. Kyiv denied the claim, stating its forces are still operational in the area.
According to Ukraine’s military command, 200 combat engagements took place on Monday alone, underscoring the intensity of the conflict despite intermittent ceasefire discussions.
