Members of the Russian military service participate in a rehearsal for the military parade marking “Victory Day” (Reuters)
4/5/2026 – The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, announced on Monday that a Ukrainian drone targeted a residential building near the center of the Russian capital, just days before the annual “Victory Day” parade.
Sobyanin explained, via his Telegram account according to the Russian state news agency TASS, that the attack did not result in any injuries. He noted that the damaged building – which the Kyiv Independent reported to be a luxury residential tower – is located in the western part of the capital in an area that hosts foreign embassies.
In contrast, TASS reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that air defense systems managed to shoot down 117 Ukrainian drones over several regions of the country overnight, in one of the largest recent attempts to counter aerial attacks.
“Victory Day” parade
This escalation comes as Moscow is on high security alert, with the Russian Ministry of Defense announcing in late April that the “Victory Day” parade scheduled for May 9 – commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany – will be held this year without tanks or missiles, due to concerns over possible drone attacks.
It is worth noting that Russia frequently reports Ukrainian drone attacks targeting the greater Moscow area, although these attacks usually focus on airports, military facilities, and suburban areas. It is rare for damage to reach civilian infrastructure in the heart of the capital, as official Russian data states that most drones are intercepted before reaching their targets.
The military confrontation between the two sides has continued for more than four years, with Russia regularly launching missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine responds by targeting sites deep inside Russian territory.
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