Ukrainian Drone Hits Moscow High-Rise Ahead of Victory Day, Airports Temporarily Shut
A Ukrainian drone struck an upscale residential high-rise in Moscow in the early hours of Monday, damaging the building’s façade but causing no casualties, Russian officials said.
The incident marks the third consecutive night of drone activity targeting the Russian capital, coming just days before Russia’s scaled-back Victory Day celebrations on 9 May, which commemorate the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany.
Unverified videos circulating on social media showed emergency responders inside a heavily damaged apartment filled with dust and debris, with shattered windows and visible structural damage. Another clip reportedly showed drone fragments scattered on the street below.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that two additional drones were intercepted. As a precaution, operations at Vnukovo and Domodedovo international airports were temporarily suspended overnight.
According to Russia’s defence ministry, a total of 117 drones were intercepted across multiple regions between Sunday and Monday. Around 60 of those were reportedly aimed at the St Petersburg region, which local officials described as a “massive” attack.
The damaged residential building is located in an affluent district of south-west Moscow, less than 10 kilometres from the Kremlin and Red Square, where the Victory Day parade is scheduled to take place.
Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia have increased since the start of the war in 2022, often targeting infrastructure and regions far from the border. While Russian air defence systems, including Pantsir-S missile units, regularly intercept incoming drones, successful strikes near central Moscow remain relatively rare.
Amid growing security concerns, the Kremlin has scaled back this year’s Victory Day parade, citing a “terrorist threat.” For the first time since 2008, the event will not include armoured vehicles or missile systems.
Authorities have also reportedly imposed temporary restrictions on mobile internet access in Moscow during the week for security reasons.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Kremlin is concerned about drone attacks during the celebrations, adding that continued pressure on Russia remains important.
Meanwhile, Russia continues its own aerial attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that four people were killed and 18 injured in a missile strike near Kharkiv on Monday.
