In the three days leading up to the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s WWII victory over Nazi Germany, Moscow’s main airports were shut down by long-range Ukrainian drones. More than 100 fights have been canceled as a number of foreign leaders are expected in Moscow for the celebration.
The Associated Press reported that “the sustained attacks appeared designed to disrupt preparations for the 80th anniversary celebrations marking victory over Nazi Germany in World War II – Russia’s biggest secular holiday of the year.”
Several foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian President Narendra Modi, and Slovak President Robert Fico are all planning to attend.
Early on Wednesday morning, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses shot down nine drones headed for the capital, later claiming 15 more were intercepted. Flights were suspended at all four of the city’s major airports in recent days, while nine other regional airports in Russia paused operations thanks to attacks along the border with Ukraine.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky threatened to attack the Victory Day celebrations, issuing a veiled warning to world leaders who plan to show up. “Our position is very simple for all countries traveling to Russia on May 9: We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,” he said. “They are responsible for your safety. We will not provide any guarantees, because we do not know what Russia might do on those dates.”
The Ukrainian leader added that the Kremlin could even launch a false flag attack, using “arson, explosions, or other actions,” and then blame Kiev.
Fico condemned Zelensky’s statement as unacceptable. “I reject such threats for security reasons. I fully respect that the safety of participants is an internal matter of the Russian Federation. But if Mr. Zelensky believes that his statements will force foreign delegations not to come, then he is deeply mistaken,” he said.
The Slovak leader continued, “It is a great disrespect when someone says to a country that made the greatest contribution to the victory over fascism and suffered the absolute greatest sacrifices we can imagine: ‘Well, celebrate, we might drop a drone or something like that on you.’ For me, these are unacceptable things.”
The Kremlin says it is planning to implement a three-day ceasefire beginning on Victory Day, May 8, in the war against Ukraine. Kiev has rejected the proposal, however, and Russian officials said their forces would respond to Ukrainian attacks.
