CNN
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The Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow on the second consecutive night, temporarily suspending flights at four airports in the Russian capital, and nine more farther away.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobianin said in a telegram post Tuesday that at least 19 Ukrainian drones were destroyed by approaching the capital during the night when the Russian air force shot four drones near the city.
There were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties, but debris from the drone that was down fell onto the main highway, Sobianin said. Flights have been suspended as a safety precaution at four airports in the capital, according to Russian aviation authorities.
The device launched in Moscow is one of 105 Ukrainian drones that intercepted Russia overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram on Tuesday.
Voices of the Kremlin tomorrow, the latest Ukrainian attack on the Russian capital is scheduled to arrive in Moscow for a three-day state visit, which is scheduled to arrive in Moscow on Wednesday, with Chinese leaders set to take part in the celebration of victory day on Friday, May 9th.
According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, President Lula da Silva, president of Vietnamese President Ram and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, President Rula da Silva, is the leader of Ram and Belarus. North Korea will send its ambassador to Moscow, and India, Nicaragua and South Africa will be represented by high-level delegations, he said.
The Victory Day is the most important day on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calendar. He has long used it to gather and demonstrate the military power of his people.
Thousands are expected to line up the Red Square towns of Moscow on Friday at a patriot exhibition marking the role of the Soviet Union, commemorating Soviet soldiers and civilians who died during World War II.
Kiev called on international allies not to send troops to celebrate Russia’s victory day in Moscow, warning that they would take part in “sharing responsibility for the blood of Ukrainian children, civilians and military personnel.”
“The participation of foreign military personnel in this event is unacceptable and will be viewed by Ukraine as a blessing to memory of victory over Nazism,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
According to Russian presidential aid, troops from 13 countries will be taking part in the parade. According to Ria Novosti, the Russian state communications agency, the parade will include marching forces from Azerbaijan, Vietnam, China and Egypt, Ushakov said.
Russian authorities are drawing out a celebration already scheduled for some parts of the country a few hours after an evening in Ukraine Salvo. According to the local governor, there will be no victory parades in the South in Sebastopol, Occupied Crimea or the city of Krasnador.
Sebastopol’s Russian aid head, Mikhail Razbozhayev, announced that the commemoration had been cancelled “for safety reasons” in a decision mandated by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Similarly, Khban Beniamin Kondratiev, head of the Krasnador, warned that such celebrations had posed “a great risk.”
“Air threats are announced almost every night. Of course, we cannot put the people who come to the parade, or the residents of the parade attendees, at risk,” Kondratiev said.
Last month, Putin declared that the unilateral three-day ceasefire in Ukraine coincided with a May 9 celebration based on what he called “humanitarian considerations,” and prompted Kiev skepticism.
Following Tuesday’s attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Kiev of “continuing the war” and argued that the Easter ceasefire was “still related.” However, Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky has repeatedly criticised the three-day ceasefire and says he is only ready to register for a longer 30-day ceasefire.
On April 29, when Putin called for a ceasefire on Victory Day, Ukrainian forces accused Moscow of launching around 1,856 attacks along the vast frontline. Meanwhile, the Russian attack killed at least 44 civilians and injured another 335. In Ukraine, according to CNN tally of local government and emergency services figures.
A Russian missile strike on Tuesday in the outskirts of Smie in central Ukraine killed one child and injured six. Most of them were children too. Authorities added that one child was left in “very serious condition.”
Meanwhile, the White House called for a “permanent ceasefire” as the Trump administration pressured Moscow and Kiev to agree to a contract to end the war. But those negotiations are largely stagnant.
In a message to senior officials traveling to Russia to celebrate the Victory Day, the Ukrainian leader warned that Kiev “cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation.”
Kiev “We haven’t played the game to create a comfortable atmosphere that will allow Putin to be evicted from quarantine on May 9th,” Zelensky said in his evening speech on Saturday.
In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry said his comments had reached a threat.
Zelensky revealed that two Chinese fighters had been captured by Ukraine in early April, demanding answers from China in recent weeks after claiming that there could be “more” in Russian ranks.
Beijing reiterated its previous call, denying Chinese involvement “to refrain from participating in military actions by any party.”
Kyiv is increasingly turning its eyes to drones to level the arena with Russia, which boasts outstanding talent and resources. On Saturday, Ukraine claimed it had first used the seaborne drone to shoot down a Russian SU-30 fighter jet in the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials told CNN that they retained their presence within Russia’s Kresk days after Moscow had completely recaptured the western region after months of invasion by Kiev forces.
This story has been updated with additional information. Contribution reports from CNN’s Anna Chernova, Victoria Butenko, Coast Gaku, Sophie Tanno, Darya Tarasova, Dahlia Tarasova Marchinakina, Edward Upright, Noor Hak and Eve Brennan.
