Ukraine Drone Raids Spark Chaos In Russia Days Before Putin's Red Square Parade

Ukrainian drone strikes on military and logistics targets inside Russia days before the Red Square 'victory' parade are causing chaos in Russia as flights are cancelled, airports shut down and preparations for the parade include practicing how to evacuate senior officials and guests. 

The larger point is to illustrate to Russians that three years into the war, the Kremlin is incapable of defending itself, let alone its people. JL

Brendan Cole reports in Newsweek:

Ukrainian drones fired into Russia have hit military facilities and airbases, disrupted airports, caused flight cancellations, internet outages and forced school closures. Drones struck Russian strategic defense industry facilities, including weapons and military technology sites. Chaos caused by Ukrainian drones ahead of Moscow's May 9 Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital's Red Square has been reported. Victory parade preparations include drills on how to evacuate top officials from Red Square.

Ukrainian drones fired into Russia have hit military facilities and airbases, disrupted airports, caused internet outages and forced school closures, it has been reported.

Telegram channels have reported the chaos caused by Ukrainian drones ahead of Moscow's May 9 Victory Day celebrations in the Russian capital's Red Square.

Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment.

An illustrative image from February 21, 2024 shows a Ukrainian drone operator test a Ukrainian-made Vampire drone in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine. Scott Peterson/Getty Images

 

The drone attacks by Ukraine come as Russia prepares for Victory Day celebrations marking the end of World War Two.

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of foreign officials planning to attend the Red Square event which will be leveraged as a propaganda tool for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Victory parade preparations appear to include drills on how to evacuate top officials from Red Square, according to east European news outlet NEXTA amid likely nervousness in the Kremlin over whether it's biggest annual display of military might can pass off without a hitch.

What To Know

For a third consecutive day, Russian authorities reported how air defenses had downed Ukrainian drones that were approaching Moscow.

 

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defenses repelled nine Ukrainian drones

 

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said drones struck Russian strategic defense industry facilities, including weapons and military technology sites.

He said a drone strike hit a plant in Saransk, in the Mordovia region, which produces fiber-optic systems used in military communications, with fires and explosions reported by local residents. Local authorities announced the closures of schools, colleges and universities on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian telegram channel Exilenova+ reported drones attacked the Kubinka military airfield which hosts Sukhoi Su-27 and Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets.

 

Russian authorities rarely acknowledge strikes on military sites but the pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Flightbomber reported the hit on Kubinka, saying areas where personnel and equipment involved in parade preparations were hit.

The Shaikovka airbase in Kaluga region, home to Tupolev Tu-22M3 bombers and storage for missiles like the Khinzal Kh-22, was also struck, according to the Kyiv Post.

Civil Aviation Disrupted

The pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Mash said Ukrainian drones forced mass flight delays and diversions at airports around Moscow.

 

The Strana Telegram channel said some flights had been delayed for more than 13 hours with dozens of planes queuing on the tarmac for departure and passengers stuck on board without food or water.

Passengers on a flight from Antalya, Turkey were stuck sitting on the plane at St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport, for seven hours after landing and passengers from other flights were forced to spend the night on planes.

Meanwhile, one drone strike hit the airfield in the Moscow region, where aircraft and personnel participating in the parade on May 9 were stationed

 

Drone attacks caused internet outages in Russia's Tula, Yaroslavl and Tver regions, where people have complained of disruptions in phone coverage and ATMs, according to the Telegram channel Ostorozhno Novosti, although there are no reports of casualties.

Ukrainian telegram channels said the Tula attacks had targeted a multiple launch rocket systems manufacturer.

What People Are Saying

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Wednesday: "The air defense forces of the Ministry of Defense repelled a drone attack... flying towards Moscow."

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation: "Important enterprises of the military-industrial complex were attacked in Russia."

 

What Happens Next

There will be anticipation over whether Ukraine will continue with drone strikes as Russia gears up for the Victory Day celebrations on Friday.

The Kremlin confirmed Wednesday that it will maintain a ceasefire between midnight May 8 and midnight May 11, a pledge which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed as a "theatrical performance."