Ukrainian Drone Attacks Lead to Airport Closures in Moscow

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Russia, forcing the temporary closure of four Moscow airports and impacting several others ahead of the Victory Day celebrations. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted over 100 drones targeting nearly a dozen regions, while some debris caused minor damage in Moscow, including shattered windows and disruptions on major highways. Russia retaliated with its own drone strikes on Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv, Odesa, and Sumy, resulting in injuries and significant damage to infrastructure, including Kharkiv’s largest market. The attacks occurred just days before a planned unilateral three-day ceasefire announced by President Vladimir Putin for Victory Day, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the truce as merely theatrical. The incident comes as world leaders, including those from China, Brazil, Vietnam, and Belarus, are expected to attend the Moscow parade. While both sides accuse each other of escalating hostilities, efforts at brokering a longer ceasefire have stalled, with Russia rejecting a broader U.S.-backed truce proposal.