- 07
- May
- 2025
In the lead-up to Russia's highly symbolic May 9 celebrations, Ukraine delivered a decisive blow. Over the course of Monday night into Tuesday, more than 100 drones targeted Russian territory, hitting multiple regions and forcing temporary airport closures, including in Moscow. This show of force comes as the Kremlin announces a unilateral three-day ceasefire, which Ukraine swiftly rejected.
Beyond the rhetoric of victory, the war has now reached Moscow’s skies. In a dramatic escalation, Ukraine launched a massive drone strike overnight, from Monday to Tuesday, targeting Russian territory. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 105 drones were intercepted or neutralized by air defense systems, with 19 aimed directly at the capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that drone debris fell onto a southern avenue, though no casualties were reported. “19 drones targeting the capital were intercepted by air defense. Debris fell in southern Moscow, but there were no victims,” he stated.
Footage released by Russian media shows a cracked shopfront, a charred facade and visibly anxious residents, a rare breach of the conflict into a city where the war had, until now, seemed distant.
Though Moscow had largely been spared from fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its four major airports—Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky—temporarily halted operations. Several other airfields, including those in Volga cities such as Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saratov and Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad), were also forced to close.
Targeted Border Regions
In Kursk, two teenagers were wounded in an overnight attack and widespread power outages were reported between Monday and Tuesday. The governors of Penza and Voronezh also confirmed the interception of 10 and 18 drones, respectively.
This barrage, one of the most intense since the war’s outset, coincides with a moment of profound symbolism for Russia. The country is preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory over Nazi Germany with a military parade on Friday, May 9, in Red Square. President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and 27 other foreign leaders.
Moscow Declares Unilateral Ceasefire
The ceasefire, scheduled from May 8 to 10, is intended to provide a brief respite for the celebrations. However, Kyiv swiftly rejected the proposal, denouncing it as a “manipulative tactic.” Volodymyr Zelensky described the move as a staged performance aimed at the international community, dismissing the truce as nothing more than a “theatrical spectacle.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that Russia would “immediately” respond to any attacks during this period. “If the Kyiv regime continues to strike our positions, we will take appropriate action,” he said.
Kyiv Holds Its Ground
Under pressure from its Western allies, particularly the United States, Ukraine continues to demand a global and unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for any negotiations with Moscow. In contrast, Russia insists on tangible assurances regarding its territorial and strategic claims, particularly in the regions it has already annexed.
The meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Thursday, may offer key insights into the positions of the two key allies amid the ongoing diplomatic stalemate. Chinese soldiers will also participate in the May 9 parade, alongside troops from 12 other countries, a move Kyiv has vehemently condemned. “Marching with the aggressor is to share responsibility for the bloodshed,” declared the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues unabated. Russian strikes have killed at least three people in Ukraine, primarily in the regions of Odessa, Donetsk and Kherson. The Russian Army also claims to have taken control of the town of Lyssivka in the east. In a rare gesture of cooperation, a prisoner exchange involving 205 soldiers took place between the two sides, but the conflict shows no sign of nearing its end.
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