Massive drone attack raises tensions before Moscow celebrations

Russia said it intercepted 347 Ukrainian drones overnight ahead of Victory Day celebrations, amid escalating tensions and failed ceasefire efforts. Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of continuing attacks, while Russia tightened security measures in Moscow

Kyiv: Russian air defences shot down 347 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia’s Defence Ministry said Thursday, in what appeared to be a major attack after Moscow spurned Kyiv’s ceasefire earlier in the week and tension mounted over safety at Russia’s upcoming Victory Day celebrations.

Incoming drones were destroyed over 20 Russian regions, including Moscow, according to the Defence Ministry, in Ukraine’s second-biggest aerial attack since Russia’s all-out invasion more than four years ago. The largest was last March when it launched 389 drones.

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The attack came ahead of Russia’s most important secular holiday, Victory Day, which marks the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Russian authorities have declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Friday and Saturday.

Ukraine had responded to that with its own suspension of hostilities from midnight Tuesday. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow disregarded the goodwill gesture and launched fresh attacks. “Russia has not stopped any type of its military activity. Unfortunately, it has not stopped. Ukraine will act symmetrically,” Zelenskyy said in his regular evening video address Wednesday.

He said Thursday on X that Russia’s attacks have been ceaseless, with drones, missiles, artillery shelling and glide bombs hitting civilian areas of Ukraine, including the power grid and rail network.
In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest, a drone strike wounded nine people, including three children, local officials said. Tension has grown as Russia’s Victory Day celebrations approach and US-led peace efforts gain no traction.

All mobile internet access and text messaging services will be shut down in the Russian capital on May 9, state media reported Thursday, citing the country’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.  Also, a traditional parade in Moscow won’t feature the usual tanks, missiles and other military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades.

Russian authorities say they are concerned about possible Ukrainian attacks, as Kyiv has expanded its long-range drone and missile capabilities. The Russian Defense Ministry cited the “current operational situation” as a reason for excluding military equipment.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that additional security measures were being taken due to the “rather complex operational situation”. The measures being taken “are necessary to ensure the safety of citizens, which is an absolute priority,” Peskov told reporters.

The restrictions will include websites on the Russian government’s so-called “white list,” a group of state-approved online services that are kept available during the country’s increasingly common connectivity blackouts. Home internet and Wi-Fi will be unaffected, officials said.

Ukraine’s air defence shot down 92 of the 102 drones Russia launched overnight, the military said.
Russia maintains a significant advantage in drone numbers, regularly deploying hundreds in a single attack.