Drone Strikes Moscow Tower Ahead of Victory Day Parade

On Monday, a residential tower in an affluent area of Moscow was struck by a drone, an unusual occurrence close to the city center as preparations for the annual Victory Day parade were underway. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that air defenses intercepted two Ukrainian drones, although one managed to hit the building located on Mosfilmovskaya Street, roughly 6-8 km from the Kremlin. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. Local news outlets displayed images of damage to the upper levels of the luxury structure. This event took place as the city geared up for the May 9 parade, which honors the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Last week, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that, for the first time since 2007, the parade would not feature heavy military equipment due to security concerns. President Vladimir Putin, in power for over 25 years, was expected to give a speech at the event, which he has often used to rationalize the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.