Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Russia, including Moscow, days before the Victory Day parade. The strike heightened security concerns as foreign leaders and troops prepared to attend. The incident underscores rising tensions and the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding Russia’s wartime commemorations and alliances.
Key Takes
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Major Drone Strike: On May 6, 2025, Ukraine launched over 100 drones into Russian territory, including Moscow, marking one of the most extensive strikes since the war began.
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Heightened Security Risks: The drone attacks occurred days before Russia’s Victory Day parade, amplifying security concerns as 29 world leaders and troops from 13 countries prepare to attend.
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Xi Jinping’s Visit: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on May 7 for a state visit and will attend the parade, signaling strengthened Sino-Russian ties amid Western diplomatic boycotts.
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Symbolic Parade: The 2025 Victory Day marks the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat and is the first full-scale celebration since 2022, with modern armored vehicles and foreign troops expected on Red Square.
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Ceasefire Rejected: President Zelensky dismissed Russia’s proposed 72-hour ceasefire (May 8–10) as a “theatrical performance” and reiterated Ukraine’s support for a U.S.-backed 30-day unconditional truce.
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Narrative Risk: Ukraine warned that foreign military participation in the parade would be viewed as tacit support for Russia’s military actions and undermine the credibility of “neutral” states.
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Strategic Messaging: The drone strike—occurring just before a globally broadcast event—shifts Ukraine’s image from defender to active threat, the first time since its 2024 incursion into Kursk Oblast.
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Operational Strain: Ensuring security in Moscow drains resources from the front lines, adding pressure to Russian forces in Donbas already stretched due to parade-related redeployments.
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Propaganda Alignment: Any Ukrainian action during the parade could reinforce Russia’s “de-Nazification” narrative, linking current operations to the Soviet victory in WWII for domestic and ideological purposes.
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Geopolitical Realignment: The alignment between China and Russia—illustrated by joint parade participation and bilateral talks—contrasts sharply with the absence of Western leaders, underlining shifting global blocs.
Ukrainian Strikes Amid Victory Day Preparations
On May 6, 2025, Ukraine launched over 100 drones toward Russia, including the capital Moscow, in one of the largest drone strikes since the beginning of the war. Russian air defenses intercepted approximately 20 drones, with debris falling in southern Moscow. One person was confirmed dead, and several Moscow-area airports temporarily suspended operations temporarily as a precaution.
These strikes come amid preparations for the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, raising concerns about security during the event. The 2025 celebration holds heightened significance as it marks the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat against the Soviet Union, and is the first full-scale event since 2022, when airshows and modern equipment were largely absent due to battlefield losses. This year, the Kremlin seeks to showcase military strength and international backing, with announced modern armored vehicles and foreign troops from 13 countries—including China and reportedly North Korea—marching on the Red Square. The presence of 29 world leaders, amid the ongoing War in Donbas, reflects Moscow’s effort to reinforce its global position and revive the symbolic power of the parade as a display of resilience and alliances.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to attend the parade. Arrived in Moscow on May 7 for a four-day state visit, he will hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, the leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine as well as broader geopolitical issues, including Sino-Russian partnership and the international situation and U.S.-Russia relations.
Failed Ceasefire
With global attention on Moscow ahead of this commemorative event, the May 6 incident raised further security concerns. Russian officials cited increased threats, including potential Ukrainian drone strikes, as a factor behind the continued suspension of aerial flyovers—traditionally a central feature of the parade.
President Zelensky also warned that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of foreign officials attending the 9 May parade in Moscow, saying:
‘We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation’.
This follows the Kremlin’s proposal of a 72-hour ceasefire from May 8 to 10, initially announced by President Putin on April 28 and confirmed by Russian officials as having been formally communicated to the military. However, Zelensky rejected the offer calling it a ‘theatrical performance’ and saying that it was ‘impossible to draw up a plan to end the war in two or three days’, advocating instead for a broader, 30-day unconditional cessation of hostilities, a proposal backed by the United States. Kyiv noted that Russian forces have previously used ceasefire periods to regroup and resume attacks shortly afterward.
Ukraine has also warned about foreign military participation in Moscow’s Victory Day parade; in an official statement, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called such participation a gesture of solidarity with an aggressor state and stated that it would be seen as an endorsement of military actions resulting in civilian casualties.
Analysis & Future Outlooks
Despite these statements, the presence of Chinese troops in the parade and Xi’s participation signal continued alignment between Beijing and Moscow, particularly in contrast to the position of many Western governments, which have chosen not to send representatives. Stronger Sino-Russian relations could lead to increased involvement of Chinese nationals in the Donbas region.
Ukrainian attacks and threats targeting Moscow in the days leading up to a major international event likely influenced President Putin’s strategic posture. This strikes, at this moment, portray Ukraine not merely as a defensive actor but as an active threat to Russian territory—the first time since the 2024 Ukrainian troops incursion into the Kursk Oblast.
In addition, ensuring security for the Moscow summit and the high-profile Victory Day parade would require further draining resources from the front lines, exacerbating strain on already stretched Russian forces in Donbas following redeployments for an event intended as a show of strength after scaled-down editions in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
However, a Ukrainian action during the show could easily be reframed within Russia’s existing narrative: Victory Day commemorates the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany, and since the outset of the war, Moscow has consistently labeled Ukrainian forces as neo-Nazi; the special military operation launched in 2022 aiming to “de-nazify” Ukraine. This framing allows the Kremlin to align its current military campaign with the legacy of the Second World War, reinforcing domestic support and justifying continued operations under the rhetoric of historical continuity.