KYIV, May 7: Russia said its air defenses intercepted 347 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the largest aerial attacks since the war began more than four years ago.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, drones targeted over 20 Russian regions, including Moscow, with additional drone waves launched later on Thursday. The strike was Ukraine’s second-biggest drone assault of the war, surpassed only by an attack involving 389 drones in March.
The attacks disrupted air travel across Moscow’s major airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo — where nearly 100 flights were delayed or canceled. The escalation comes just before Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations on May 9, one of the country’s most important national holidays marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
Earlier this week, Russia announced a unilateral ceasefire for Friday and Saturday surrounding the commemorations. Ukraine responded by offering its own temporary suspension of hostilities beginning Tuesday night. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of ignoring the gesture and continuing military operations.
In a video address, Zelenskyy said Russia had not reduced any military activity and warned that Ukraine would respond “symmetrically.” He later stated on social media that Russian attacks involving drones, missiles, artillery and glide bombs had continued to hit civilian infrastructure, including power facilities and rail networks.
In the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, a Russian drone strike reportedly injured nine people, including three children, according to local officials. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said its air defenses destroyed 92 of the 102 drones launched overnight by Russia.
Security concerns in Russia have intensified ahead of the Victory Day events. Russian authorities announced that mobile internet and text messaging services in Moscow will be shut down on May 9 as a precaution against possible Ukrainian attacks. The annual military parade will also reportedly exclude tanks, missiles and other heavy military equipment for the first time in nearly two decades.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the measures reflect a “complex operational situation” and are intended to ensure public safety. Despite Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capabilities, Russia continues to maintain a significant advantage in drone warfare, frequently launching hundreds of drones in coordinated attacks. (AP)
