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447 Ukrainian Drones Disrupt Moscow Parade Plans, Delay Foreign Leaders’ Arrival
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Ukrainian drone strikes on the night of May 6–7 triggered large-scale disruptions at Moscow airports, including Vnukovo, the primary hub for receiving foreign delegations ahead of Russia’s planned Victory Day parade.
According to Russian media Agents on May 7, Vnukovo Airport—located in the southwest of Moscow and frequently used for state and diplomatic flights—suspended operations for nearly ten hours.
Flight restrictions were in place from 18:19 on May 6 until 04:07 the next morning. Despite reopening, dozens of flights remained delayed or canceled. The airport had also temporarily closed on May 4 and 5.
Foreign delegations expected to attend the May 9 parade—including the presidents of Brazil and China—were scheduled to arrive during the disruption window.
Additional restrictions were imposed at Domodedovo (southeast of Moscow), Sheremetyevo (northwest), and Zhukovsky (southeast), affecting the capital’s entire air transit network. Sheremetyevo resumed operations by 05:30, while others remained limited at the time of reporting.
Russian authorities claimed Ukraine launched a total of 447 drones and missiles during the night, calling it the most extensive aerial attack to date. These claims have not been independently verified.
As part of the same strike campaign, Ukrainian drones targeted military infrastructure deep inside Russia, hitting airbases and defense plants in multiple regions. Fires were confirmed at Shaikovka Airbase in Kaluga—where Tu-22M3 bombers and Kh-22 missiles are based—and at Kubinka Airbase near Moscow, both detected via NASA satellite data.
In Saransk, drones struck Russia’s only known fiber-optic cable plant supplying the military. Additional strikes hit weapons production sites in Tula, including the KBP Design Bureau and Splav, key suppliers of guided weapons and multiple-launch rocket systems. Ukrainian officials described the operation as a coordinated effort to degrade core components of Russia’s defense industry.
Earlier, the Kremlin confirmed that 29 foreign leaders plan to attend the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, along with military personnel from 13 countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on May 3 that Ukraine cannot guarantee the safety of foreign delegations on Russian territory during the event.
-a80eca3386f843ec2c53278e18ae1131.jpg "Rare Footage Shows Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit Launching Multiple Chaklun-V UAVs at Night, Video")
