Russia said on Thursday that air defences had destroyed 32 drones heading towards Moscow since the start of the day, as the country prepared for its May 9 Victory Day commemorations under heightened security concerns.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that Russian air defences were repelling attacks by Ukrainian drones targeting the capital ahead of the annual celebrations, which commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II.
The incidents came amid escalating warnings from Moscow over possible Ukrainian attempts to disrupt the commemorations and military parade in Red Square.
Russia warns of retaliation over parade disruption
Russia’s defence ministry had warned earlier this week that it would respond to any Ukrainian attacks during the scaled-back celebrations with what it described as a “massive missile strike” on central Kyiv.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said diplomatic missions had been urged to evacuate staff promptly from Kyiv in the event of a large-scale retaliatory strike by Moscow.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, speaking in a video posted on Telegram, said foreign governments should treat Russia’s warning “with the utmost responsibility” and ensure the “timely evacuation” of diplomatic personnel from Kyiv.
Zakharova said the warning was linked to the “inevitability” of a retaliatory strike by Russia’s armed forces should Ukraine attempt to disrupt Victory Day commemorations.
She also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of making “aggressive and threatening statements” regarding the celebrations during remarks earlier this week at a meeting of the European Political Community in Armenia.
In those remarks, Zelenskyy noted that Russia had scaled back the commemorations and would hold them without military hardware for security reasons.
“It will be the first time in many, many years they cannot afford military equipment and they fear drones may buzz over Red Square. This is telling,” Zelenskyy said.
The exchange underscored growing tensions ahead of the May 9 parade, one of Russia’s most symbolically important state events, as concerns mounted over the threat of further drone attacks on Moscow.
