As Moscow’s capital city prepares to host a significant military parade with foreign leaders in attendance, Russia has reported that it resisted a drone attack on the city.
According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Monday, “four drones flying toward Moscow” were intercepted by Russia’s air defense systems. Moscow’s preparations for events observing the end of the Great Patriotic War, also known as World War II, on May 9 seem to be under the microscope with the attack.
To mark the occasion starting on May 8, President Vladimir Putin has demanded a 72-hour ceasefire. Instead, Ukraine has demanded a 30-day ceasefire in the conflict, which Russia launched in February 2022.
There haven’t been any reports of injuries or damage, Sobyanin claimed in a post on Telegram.
However, the attack caused the Moscow’s Domodedovo airport to briefly experience a halt to air traffic. Flight suspension was confirmed by aviation regulator Rosaviatsia, which confirmed the safety of the aircraft for about 90 minutes.
Russian authorities also reported that five drones fell over Kaluga and 17 fell over the Bryansk region.
“Cynicism of the highest order”
Putin’s declaration of a three-day unilateral ceasefire has been hailed as a humanitarian gesture by the Kremlin.
As world leaders are expected in Moscow, including China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic, and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, according to Russian authorities, military operations will be halted during the truce.
However, Russia rejected a United States-agreed unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposal that it is trying to put an end to.
The 72-hour truce, which was announced as US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that he is growing frustrated with Moscow’s inability to reach a ceasefire, has also been criticized as “unserious” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Putin’s exit from isolation on May 9 was accused of playing games in Moscow to create a pleasant atmosphere.
Additionally, Zelenskyy claimed that Russia was in charge of its own security and that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries.
On May 9, the Russians are reportedly firing at Ukraine daily at the Russians, who are also asking for a ceasefire. He wrote on Sunday’s Telegram messaging app, “This is cynicism of the highest order.”
Putin asserted in his initial statement that Russia would respond if the country fired upon it during the 72-hour pause in the conflict.
Kyiv is targeted
Despite the ceasefire that was proposed on May 8, Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine.
The air force of Ukraine reported on Monday that it had shot down 42 of the 116 drones that had been launched overnight.
According to Timur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, at least 11 people, including two children, were hurt in the attack in the capital, Kyiv.
Central Ukraine’s Cherkasy was also the target. One person was injured, according to emergency services, along with damage to residential and commercial structures.
Meanwhile, war bloggers reported on Monday that Ukrainian forces had reportedly attacked the western Kursk region of Russia, which the military claimed had occupied for months before being shot down last month.
Ukrainian forces reportedly smashed through the border while firing missiles, according to various sources.
