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Russia says 32 drones targeting Moscow shot down ahead of Victory Day

By Reuters Reuters
A security guard stands atop a pickup truck armed with a machine gun while patrolling an area in central Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2026. REUTERS/Anastasia Barashkova
A security guard stands atop a pickup truck armed with a machine gun while patrolling an area in central Moscow, Russia, May 7, 2026. REUTERS/Anastasia Barashkova Anastasia Barashkova Reuters

MOSCOW - Russia said on Thursday that air defences had destroyed 32 drones heading towards Moscow since the start of the day, as the country prepares for Russia's May 9 Victory Day commemorations.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram that air defences were repelling attacks by Ukrainian drones on the capital.

Russia's defence ministry had warned earlier this week it would respond to any Ukrainian attacks during the scaled-back celebrations with what it described as a massive missile strike on the centre of Kyiv.

(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Anna Peverieri; Editing by Gleb Bryanski)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 2:06 AM.

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