On Friday, May 8, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that the Russian air defense forces intercepted more than 50 unmanned aerial vehicles flying towards Moscow in about 15 hours. Currently, rescue teams are inspecting the debris fallen on the ground.
Sobyanin stated in a series of announcements on Telegram that from 11 a.m. local time on May 7 (08:00 GMT) until around 2 a.m. on May 8, the Russian military shot down over 50 Ukrainian drones in the skies over Moscow.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also posted on Telegram that within four hours before midnight (from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.), multiple regions in central and southern Russia intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones.
Furthermore, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, a unilateral ceasefire will be implemented from midnight on May 8 until midnight on May 10 for a period of three days.
On May 4, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated at the 8th European Political Community Summit that Russia, fearing drone attacks, had significantly reduced the military equipment display at the Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9. He implied that Ukrainian drones might “fly over” or “participate” in this parade, showcasing that Russia’s capabilities are not as formidable as they used to be.
(*This article is sourced from Reuters*)