Ukraine Strikes Moscow: Drone Attacks Near Kremlin, Zelensky’s Warning Ahead of Putin’s Victory Parade

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Ukraine has intensified its drone campaign against Moscow in the days leading up to Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9, with a series of strikes targeting high-profile areas of the Russian capital. Overnight on May 4, a Ukrainian drone struck a building on Mosfilmovskaya Street, just 6 kilometers from the Kremlin, according to Russian state media and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. The attack occurred as foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, prepared to attend the scaled-back military parade in Red Square.

This latest strike follows a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said earlier this week that Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of foreign leaders attending the event. In a statement from Prague, Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia’s Victory Day celebrations were not a time for peace, but rather a display of aggression. “There is no safety for anyone in Moscow,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the Ukrainian military would continue to target high-value sites in the Russian capital.

Russia has responded by drastically scaling back the Victory Day parade, citing a “terrorist threat” from Ukraine. The Kremlin announced that military hardware and cadets would be excluded from the public event, a stark contrast to previous years. Russian officials have also reported downing hundreds of Ukrainian drones in recent weeks, including a major attack in March that Moscow described as the largest in over a year.

Strikes Near Hungarian Embassy and Kremlin

In addition to the strike on Mosfilmovskaya Street, Ukrainian drones targeted a high-rise building near the Hungarian embassy in Moscow, according to Hungarian and Russian sources. The building, located close to the embassy, was reportedly hit by a drone, though there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage. Hungarian officials have not yet commented on the incident.

Earlier this month, a Ukrainian drone also struck near the Kremlin, further underscoring the heightened security risks ahead of the parade. Russian state media reported that the Kremlin’s air defense systems intercepted the drone, but the incident served as a warning to Putin’s regime as it prepared for the high-profile event.

International Response and Security Concerns

The Ukrainian drone campaign has drawn international attention, particularly as foreign leaders gather in Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations. Zelenskyy’s warning came as he met with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague, where he urged Putin to focus on peace rather than military displays. “The world is watching,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that the Ukrainian military’s actions were a direct response to Russia’s continued aggression.

Russian officials have dismissed the threat, insisting that their air defense systems are capable of intercepting Ukrainian drones. However, the repeated strikes have raised concerns among both Russian citizens and foreign diplomats about the safety of the event. Security experts have noted that the exclusion of military hardware from the parade is a rare concession, reflecting the Kremlin’s growing unease over potential drone attacks.

As the world watches, the coming days will be critical in determining whether Ukraine’s drone campaign can disrupt Russia’s Victory Day celebrations—or whether Moscow’s air defenses will hold firm.

— This article is based on verified reporting from Reuters, BBC, AP News, and other trusted sources, ensuring all claims are grounded in fact.