Ukrainian drones strike Moscow in a rare targeting ahead of Victory Day celebrations

A residential building in Moscow was damaged overnight from Sunday to Monday as a result of a Ukrainian drone strike, according to the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergei Sobyanin.

This strike in Moscow, which is rarely targeted by Ukrainian bombardment, comes just days before the celebrations marking the victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Russia will not deploy any military equipment in the traditional parade held on May 9 in Red Square, for reasons the Kremlin described as security-related.

Sobyanin explained via the Telegram application that “the drone targeted a building on Mosfilmovskaya Street” in western Moscow. He added that “no one was injured.”

The Russian television channel Vesti broadcast footage of a damaged apartment, whose walls had collapsed and doors had been shattered.

Since the beginning of its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has bombarded the entire territory of Ukraine, particularly its critical infrastructure.

Kyiv has responded by targeting sites inside Russia, stating that it strikes military positions as well as oil facilities, in an effort to limit Moscow’s ability to finance its war effort.

Although the Moscow region is regularly targeted by Ukrainian drones, the capital itself is rarely a direct target.

Ukraine, which is seeking to repel the offensive on its territory, had already attempted last year to disrupt the May 9 parade through drone strikes targeting Moscow in the preceding days.