Zelensky says Ukrainian drones may target Moscow Victory Day parade
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Post · May 4
Zelensky says Ukrainian drones may target Moscow Victory Day parade
9 articles · Updated · Kyiv Post · May 4
Speaking at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, he said Russia would show no military equipment on 9 May; a drone also hit a Moscow high-rise about 6km from the Kremlin.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties and air defences later intercepted two more drones, after eight were reportedly downed on 3 May, briefly disrupting airports.
Zelensky said summer could prove decisive, urged sanctions on Russian oil, industry and banks, and called for deeper European coordination on drones, air defence and any future negotiations with Moscow.
With Russia now threatening European factories, is a direct NATO conflict inevitable?
As drones strike deep inside Russia, has the nature of modern warfare changed forever?
The 2026 Victory Day Parade Without Tanks: Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Reshapes Russia’s War and Symbolism
Overview
In early May 2026, Ukrainian President Zelensky threatened to target Russia's Victory Day parade, followed by a Ukrainian drone striking a residential building near Moscow, breaching the city's air defenses. This breach heightened Russian security concerns, leading the Kremlin to cancel the traditional heavy military equipment and cadet participation in the parade for the first time in decades. Ukraine's advanced long-range drones have also destroyed key Russian air defenses and damaged naval assets, while a sustained campaign against Russia's oil infrastructure has severely reduced its export capacity. These strikes have eroded Russia's sense of security, prompting increased air defenses and communication restrictions in Moscow. Ukraine rejected Russia's proposed ceasefire for the parade, reflecting its strengthened position amid Russia's growing diplomatic isolation, highlighted by the absence of major world leaders at the event.