Ukraine Drone Strikes Disrupt Moscow Airports Amid Ceasefire Plans/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian drone strikes briefly shut down all four international airports near Moscow and disrupted air traffic across nine Russian regions on Tuesday. The attacks occurred just days before Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, placing renewed strain on ceasefire efforts and drawing global attention to escalating cross-border hostilities.
Moscow Drone Disruption: Quick Looks
- Airports Closed: All major Moscow airports and nine regional hubs briefly suspended operations.
- Drone Barrage: Russia intercepted over 100 Ukrainian drones targeting multiple regions.
- Victory Day Threatened: Attacks came ahead of Moscow’s high-profile World War II celebrations.
- International Guests Expected: Leaders from Brazil and China will attend Thursday’s Victory Day parade.
- Putin’s Ceasefire Tested: 72-hour unilateral truce order announced, but Ukraine demands longer pause.
- Civilian Casualties: Strikes injured civilians in Russia and killed two in Ukraine, with widespread damage.
- Kharkiv Market Hit: Drone attack destroyed 100 stalls in Ukraine’s second-largest city.
- Ongoing Escalation: Cross-border strikes intensify despite truce efforts and global mediation.
- Cybersecurity Alert: Russia may restrict internet access during upcoming public events.
- Unverified Claims: Russian strike reports remain independently unconfirmed.
Ukraine Drone Strikes Disrupt Moscow Airports Amid Ceasefire Plans
Deep Look
A wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Tuesday forced the temporary closure of Moscow’s four international airports and nine additional air hubs across Russia, heightening tensions just days before Victory Day celebrations. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, more than 100 drones targeted nearly a dozen regions in an escalation of Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities.
The drone barrage is the second consecutive night of reported attacks in the Moscow region and underscores Ukraine’s strategy of taking the war beyond the front lines — now in its fourth year — deep into Russian territory.
Airports Halted, Ceasefire Jeopardized
Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, confirmed the disruption, which briefly halted passenger and cargo flights in Moscow and border regions. The closures came amid preparations for Russia’s Victory Day on May 9, its largest secular holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
In a move to bolster diplomatic optics during the celebration, President Vladimir Putin announced a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire beginning May 8, citing humanitarian reasons. However, the drone attacks cast immediate doubt on the truce’s effectiveness. Ukrainian officials have rejected the short timeframe and instead endorsed a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Russia has declined unless sweeping conditions are met.
World Leaders Watch Closely
The events unfold as high-profile guests, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, prepare to attend Thursday’s 80th anniversary Victory Day parade in Red Square. Security in Moscow is being tightened dramatically, with warnings about restricted internet access and bans on fireworks during the celebrations.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian troops were ordered to observe the ceasefire, but would retaliate if attacked — a stance that now appears increasingly difficult to maintain.
Rising Toll on Both Sides
Ukrainian military officials report a record 136 Russian strike and decoy drones launched overnight, including 20 Shahed drones targeting Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The attacks ignited a massive blaze at Barabashovo Market, destroying or damaging nearly 100 stalls and injuring four people.
Further strikes in Kramatorsk killed one and injured two more, while Odesa region drone attacks claimed another civilian life and damaged critical infrastructure.
Russia, in turn, claimed casualties in Kursk and Voronezh, though its reports remain unverified by independent sources. Officials said drone attacks injured two in Kursk and caused structural damage in multiple regions along the Ukraine border.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue deploying heavy weapons, including 3,000-pound glide bombs and cruise missiles, as they push back against Ukraine’s increasing use of domestically manufactured long-range drones.
Tactical Shifts and Ceasefire Doubts
Ukrainian drone strikes into Russian territory represent a calculated strategy to exploit gaps in Russian air defenses and offset Kyiv’s disadvantage in manpower and artillery. Analysts note that as Ukraine’s battlefield options narrow, especially with limited new Western arms supplies, such asymmetric tactics will likely become more common.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated support for a 30-day truce, saying it could open pathways for diplomacy and humanitarian relief. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed the ceasefire’s scope, saying: “It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a lot if you knew where we started from.”
Despite the tensions, the Moscow Victory Day parade is expected to proceed, albeit under heavy security, and possibly without the traditional public flair as the Kremlin grapples with mounting pressure at home and abroad.
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