Drones Disrupt Moscow Airports Ahead of Victory Day Celebrations

Ukrainian drones have launched repeated attacks on Moscow and several Russian regions in the days leading up to Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations, prompting flight restrictions at major Moscow airports and air alerts across at least nine regions. Russian authorities reported intercepting over 100 Ukrainian drones in a single night, with no major casualties or serious damage, although some infrastructure was affected, including a power outage in Kursk caused by an attack on an electrical substation. The heightened security comes as President Vladimir Putin prepares to host a major military parade in Moscow, which will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and other foreign leaders, while some cities near the Ukrainian border have canceled their parades over security concerns. Ukraine has signaled that these attacks are intended to pressure Moscow diplomatically and disrupt the symbolic event. Meanwhile, President Putin has stated that there is currently no need to use nuclear weapons and hopes such a scenario can be avoided. The ongoing drone attacks underscore Ukraine's increasing capability to strike deep within Russian territory as the conflict continues.