RT reported that on May 7, Russia's air defense system repelled a large-scale attack from Ukraine, with more than 500 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 2 HIMARS missiles supported by the West, 5 Neptune cruise missiles and 6 JDAM smart bombs also shot down.
In the context of the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by President Vladimir Putin effective from May 8-10, UAV and missile attacks from Ukraine are still increasing.
The ceasefire was issued by Russia on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the German Socialist Victory Day and is expected to be the opening signal for unconditional direct negotiations with Kiev.
Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed: "This initiative is from the Russian side, launched by President Putin. It is still in effect.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refused to support the ceasefire proposal, calling it "an attempt at manipulation" by Moscow. Meanwhile, Russia accused the Ukrainian government of continuing to escalate attacks targeting civilians and civil aviation infrastructure.
According to a report by the Russian Foreign Ministry, in the past week alone, the number of civilian casualties from UAV attacks reached a record high: 15 dead and 142 injured.
The heavy attacks from the night of May 7 to the morning of May 8 have plunged the Russian aviation system into chaos. Several major airports, including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, in Moscow have been forced to temporarily suspend operations. Thousands of passengers were stranded on airplanes or in stations, without accommodation overnight.
Other cities such as Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Kirov, Yaroslavl have also had to temporarily close their airspace. Aeroflot and major airlines such as Pobeda and S7 have issued warnings about canceling or adjusting many flights. S7 announced refunds or support for changing flights for affected passengers.
Mr. Artyom Korenyako, spokesman for the Russian Federal Aviation Administration, emphasized: "Restrictive measures have been taken to ensure safety for civil flights".
On Telegram, Andrey Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Counterfeiting, said the attacks on the night of May 7 targeted the Kubinka air base in Moscow and the Shaykovka military airport in Kaluga province.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that at least 17 UAVs were shot down in two strikes on the capital in less than 12 hours, marking the third consecutive day the Russian capital was hit by drone strikes - just days before the May 9 Victory Day parade.
Many people in the areas of Ryazan, Tula, Orel and even Moscow have recorded "waves" of UAVs flying towards the capital.
Despite the hourly security situation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed that Russia has not changed its stance: "We still keep our commitment to a humanitarian ceasefire".
The initiative to suspend the war is not only a historic commemorative event but also an opportunity to kick off negotiations, which have been stalled for months, Russian officials said. Although Ukraine has rejected the ceasefire, Moscow has said it is ready for talks without preconditions.
While the fighting escalates, the Russian capital is preparing for a Victory Day parade attended by 29 world-class leaders, according to the announcement from Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yury Ushakov.
