Ukrainian drone hits upmarket Moscow high-rise ahead of Victory Day celebrations

Key Points:

• A Ukrainian drone struck a luxury residential high-rise in southwest Moscow early Monday, causing façade damage but no casualties, marking the third consecutive night of drone attacks on the Russian capital ahead of Russia’s Victory Day parade.
• Russian authorities intercepted 117 drones across various regions between Sunday and Monday, including 60 targeting the St Petersburg area in a "massive" assault, while Moscow remains largely protected by the Pantsir-S missile system.
• Due to heightened "terrorist threats" from Ukraine, Russia announced a scaled-back Victory Day parade on May 9, excluding armored vehicles and missile systems for the first time since 2008, and declared a ceasefire on May 8-9, warning of retaliatory strikes on Kyiv if disrupted.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the Kremlin’s fears of drone attacks over Red Square as indicative of pressure on Russia and dismissed a proposed one-day ceasefire as insincere, stating Ukraine would observe its own ceasefire starting May 5-6.
• Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to target Russian energy infrastructure and refineries, aiming to reduce Russia’s oil production and revenue amid ongoing hostilities.