Key points
- 18 and 10 Ukrainian drones intercepted: Russian governors
- Flight restrictions introduced at four airports in Moscow
- Several world leaders are expected to attend a parade on May 9 in Moscow
- Russian drone strike kills one person in Odesa region: Ukrainian governor
ISLAMABAD: More than a dozen Russian airports had to restrict their traffic due to drone attacks overnight to Tuesday, Russian authorities reported, including in Moscow days before a planned military parade.
According to AFP, a total of 19 drones were downed around the Russian capital, where several world leaders are expected to attend a parade and address by President Vladimir Putin on May 9 as part of World War II anniversary celebrations, authorities said.
Flight restrictions were introduced at four airports in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported, citing the Federal Air Transport Agency — though traffic at the city’s main Sheremetyevo airport remained largely unaffected.
“No damage or casualties”
Airports were also affected in other cities including Volgograd and Nizhny Novgorod.
In a post on Telegram, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said debris had fallen on a major avenue in southern Moscow but there was “no damage or casualties” in the city.
Russian media broadcast images of a cracked supermarket window and a blackened residential building facade.
The governors of Voronezh and Penza reported that 18 and 10 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted in their regions respectively, without causing any casualties.
Electrical substation attacked
In the Kursk region, acting governor Alexander Khinshtein said an attack was carried out on an electrical substation in the city of Rylsk late Monday, injuring two teenagers.
“As a result of the attack on the city, two transformers were damaged, and the power was completely cut off,” he said on Telegram.
An attack was carried out on an electrical substation in the city of Rylsk late Monday, injuring two teenagers.” – Kursk acting governor Alexander Khinshtein
Russian authorities earlier on Monday said defence forces had repelled four drones heading towards Moscow, where the conflict in Ukraine often feels distant.
In Ukraine, a Russian drone strike killed one person in the Odesa region, governor Oleg Kiper said Monday night, according to AFP.
Humanitarian truce
According to Kyiv Independent, Russian President Vladimir Putin have already announced a “humanitarian” truce in the war against Ukraine to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The ceasefire will be in effect from midnight on May 8 until midnight on May 11, according to a Kremlin’s statement. “During this period, all military actions will cease. Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the statement read.
