Russia’s capital, Moscow, experienced its second consecutive night of aerial tension as Ukrainian drones targeted the city, prompting a temporary shutdown of all major airports, officials confirmed early Tuesday.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, at least 19 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed by Russian air defense systems as they approached the city from multiple directions. Despite the scale of the attack, no serious damage or injuries were reported.
The attacks come at a symbolic time, just days before Russia marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
President Vladimir Putin had announced a three-day ceasefire from May 8 to 10 in honor of the historic occasion—a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called “pointless,” instead backing a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire.
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In a stark display of ongoing hostilities, Telegram channels linked to Russian security services (Bazaar, Mash, and Shot) reported that a drone hit an apartment building in southern Moscow, breaking windows but causing no injuries. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of even urban civilian zones amid the broader conflict.
The drone swarm forced the closure of all four major airports serving Moscow for several hours overnight as aviation authorities ensured airspace safety. Airports in several regional cities were also shut down as a precautionary measure.
By Tuesday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that four additional drones were downed on approach to the capital, again without casualties or structural damage.
The attack on Moscow was not isolated. In the Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine, 18 drones were reportedly intercepted, with light damage reported to a non-residential building and a children’s playground, according to the regional governor. Meanwhile, 10 drones were destroyed over the southern Penza region, with no reported injuries or damage.
The full extent of the drone operations across Russia on Tuesday remains unclear, and Kyiv has not issued an official statement regarding the attacks.
Ukrainian officials have previously justified drone strikes as targeted efforts to dismantle Russian military infrastructure, particularly assets that support the ongoing assault on Ukraine’s cities and energy systems. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago, Ukraine has ramped up drone usage as a strategic tool in its defense efforts.
The latest escalation underscores the continued volatility of the Russia-Ukraine war, as symbolic dates and ceasefires do little to stem the violence on the ground—and in the skies.
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