Ukraine has targeted Moscow with drones for a third consecutive day as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to host 29 world leaders to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Most of the Russian capital’s airports were forced to close and remained out of action last night – shortly before Chinese President Xi Jinping was due to arrive.
Military units from 13 countries, including China, will take part in the parade marking the victory over Nazi Germany.
Xi is due to start a four-day visit to Russia today, giving Putin an important diplomatic boost at a time when the Russian leader is keen to show his country is not isolated on the world stage.
It will be the Chinese leader’s third visit to Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But Putin’s parade plans have already been disrupted by Kyiv’s military efforts.
One target hit by Ukrainian drones was Kubinka military airfield, west of the city, used for aircraft taking part in the scheduled Red Square flypast.
Russian MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets are based at this airfield, as is Putin’s aerobatic team, as well as a strike base for attacks on Ukraine.
Military units from 13 countries, including China , will take part in the parade marking the victory over Nazi Germany
Putin’s annual Red Square parade is a source of national pride, with this year’s show expected to be more extravagant than usual
Xi is due to start a four-day visit to Russia today , giving Putin an important diplomatic boost
Fighterbomber Telegram channel admitted the strike, stating: ‘The [Ukrainians] are trying to spoil our parade and are hitting the locations of personnel and equipment – participants in the parade.
‘At night, a drone attacked the Kubinka airfield, where our aerobatic teams Russian Knights and Swifts are based.’
A location, possibly storage warehouses, close to another airfield – Shaikovka in Kaluga region, 140 miles southwest of Moscow, base of long-range Tu-22 strategic nuclear bombers – was reported ablaze.
NASA’s fire monitoring satellites recorded fires at both sites.
Hundreds of flights were impacted with passengers complaining of a ‘nightmare’ at Moscow’s airports.
Passengers on a Dubai-Moscow flight forced to land in Kazan were told they were being held in a hotel for an ‘indefinite’ period due to the attacks.
Vnukovo airport – used by Putin and top officials – was in chaos with 50-plus flights delayed.
Sheremetyevo airport cancelled multiple flights due to the drone swarms.
There was also huge internet disruption as the authorities reportedly jammed signals, desperately seeking to counter Ukrainian kamikaze drones.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed 17 drones targeting the city had been downed, with unconfirmed reports saying the city had been struck.
In one of the Ukraine’s fiercest offensive nights of the entire three-year war, its armed forces hit two Russian strategic defence plants in Saransk, some 320 miles southeast of Moscow – including Optic Fibre Systems JSC, the only fibre optic manufacturing plant in Russia.
In one of the Ukraine’s fiercest offensive nights of the entire three-year war, its armed forces hit two Russian strategic defence plants in Saransk
President Zelenskyy has refused to guarantee the safety of visiting foreign leaders and Ukraine has warned that Putin could stage a terror attack in Moscow, blaming Kyiv
Foreign leaders will be treated to the spectacle of Russian tanks, howitzers and intercontinental ballistic missiles on display outside the Kremlin
Thick black smoke was seen pouring from the plant which is vital to production of hi-tech Russian military drones.
Another defence target was also ablaze more than one miles away.
Reports said KhimMash was on fire – a key chemical engineering plant, producing equipment for rocket propellant production and components for military rocket and missile systems.
All schools, universities and kindergartens were closed in the city today, and a ban imposed on photos, videos and information about the consequences of the attacks – a sign of the havoc wrought by the Ukrainian strikes.
Two key military plants were also hit in Tula – 110 miles south of Moscow.
Smoke was seen pouring from the Design Bureau of Instrument Engineering, which develops high-precision guided weapons for Putin’s war machine.
Drones also hit the Scientific and Production Association SPLAV, which produces multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), heavy flamethrower systems (HFS), ammunition, and unguided and guided aircraft missiles, according to reports.
It is still unclear whether Ukraine’s efforts delayed or prevented any world leaders from touching down in Moscow.
Putin’s annual Red Square parade is a source of national pride, with this year’s show expected to be more extravagant than usual.
Foreign leaders will be treated to the spectacle of Russian tanks, howitzers and intercontinental ballistic missiles on display outside the Kremlin.
But there are fears that the May 9 event could be directly targeted by Kyiv.
President Zelenskyy has refused to guarantee the safety of visiting foreign leaders and Ukraine has warned that Putin could stage a terror attack in Moscow, blaming Kyiv.
‘Our position is very simple for all countries travelling to Russia on May 9: we cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,’ he said.
‘We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.’
Russia has warned residents of Moscow to avoid setting off fireworks or flying drones to celebrate Victory Day as officials tighten up security.
Russia has warned residents of Moscow to avoid setting off fireworks or flying drones to celebrate Victory Day as officials tighten up security
Moscow has continued to strike targets in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine as the three-year invasion continues
A view shows an apartment building damaged during a Russian drone strike
An explosion of a drone is seen during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv
Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia, who is planning to attend, said: ‘“It’s extremely disrespectful for someone to tell the country that made the greatest contribution to defeating fascism and suffered the greatest losses: “Go ahead and celebrate — maybe we’ll throw a drone your way”.’
Moscow has continued to strike targets in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine as the three-year invasion continues.
In the capital, two people died and eight were wounded in strikes which included deadly Iskander missiles. Four children were reported as being among the injured.
In the Sumy border region, Russian strikes killed three people, including one child, and left 11 injured, including 5 children.
Meanwhile, four were wounded in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzia.
