On 7 May 2025, as Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to mark Victory Day with a military parade in Moscow, Ukraine has come under sustained missile and drone attack, including in Kyiv, Kyiv region, and several other cities.
The assault, ongoing for hours at the time of writing, has resulted in casualties, including fatalities. Ukrainian officials report that the strikes targeted both civilian and energy infrastructure, continuing a familiar pattern of Russia’s use of air power against non-military targets.
The timing of the attack has drawn particular attention, coinciding with the date Putin previously linked to a proposed ceasefire – ostensibly to mark the anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War. Despite public statements regarding a potential truce, no such halt in hostilities has materialised.
Earlier, President Donald Trump reportedly welcomed the notion of a “Victory Day ceasefire” with cautious optimism, viewing it as a possible diplomatic opening. However, the renewed Russian bombardment on the very day in question casts doubt over the credibility of any such offers. Analysts suggest the Kremlin’s gestures are intended primarily to maintain lines of communication with Washington and delay further Western military support to Kyiv.
In response to the overnight strikes, Ukraine launched a series of counterattacks deep inside Russian territory. Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted defence-industrial facilities and military airfields, including at least one site believed to be preparing aircraft for the 9 May parade over Red Square. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but preliminary reports indicate significant disruption to Russia’s air operations.
Several major Russian airports, including Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky, experienced delays and temporary closures. While Russian authorities cited “technical reasons” and “weather conditions,” multiple local sources attributed the airspace shutdowns to Ukrainian drone incursions. These interruptions were compounded by Pakistan’s closure of its own airspace, which led to flight diversions and a backlog of military and civilian aircraft unable to land.
The combination of military strikes and logistical strain is being interpreted in Kyiv as evidence that Russia’s strategy of attritional warfare is backfiring. Ukrainian commentators argue that as long as Russia feels no economic or military pressure on its own soil, it has little incentive to end the war it began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and escalated into full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022.
Overnight exchanges were widely interpreted as part of Ukraine’s broader effort to degrade Russia’s war-making capacity. This involves strikes on oil refineries, military production sites, and airfields used to launch missile attacks. Such actions are viewed in Kyiv as both defensive measures and a means to impose strategic costs on Moscow.
The attack on Kyiv coincides with a highly symbolic period in the Russian political calendar. The 9 May Victory Day celebrations are a centrepiece of the Kremlin’s national identity narrative. This year, they are set to take place with the presence of several foreign dignitaries, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders from Central Asian states. It remains unclear how the recent airspace disruptions and military setbacks will affect the parade.
While the Russian authorities have not issued an official statement on the Ukrainian drone strikes, independent monitoring groups and open-source intelligence suggest multiple strategic sites have been hit in recent days. Social media posts and flight tracker data indicate increased rerouting of air traffic and possible damage to infrastructure at one or more bases.
In Ukraine, historic parallels are drawn between the current conflict and Europe’s 20th-century struggles against fascist regimes. As the Victory Day anniversary approaches, the war is seen as a continuation of authoritarian aggression, now led by the Russian Federation. The Soviet victory in 1945 did not bring an end to imperial ambitions; instead, the post-war USSR extended its dominance over much of Eastern Europe—a legacy many now view as a precursor to the actions of Putin’s Russia.
Ukrainian public messaging remains consistent: that a negotiated end to the war is only viable if Russia no longer possesses the financial and military resources to sustain its campaign. In the absence of such pressure, they argue, the Kremlin will persist with its strategy of targeting civilians and destabilising neighbouring countries.
In the immediate term, the focus remains on managing the aftermath of the latest attack. Emergency services in Kyiv and elsewhere continue to respond to missile and drone strikes. Restoration of power and water supply is ongoing in several regions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly remain active over Russian territory. The full impact of these operations—both military and political—will become clearer in the coming days, while Moscow prepares for what it hopes will be a show of strength on Red Square.
