Ukrainian drone attacks close Moscow airports

Moscow's four international airports closed for hours overnight following an attack by Ukrainian drones on the capital that spread to other Russian cities and airports.

Russian forces shot down 105 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian defense ministry told local news agencies.

According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 19 drones were destroyed near Moscow alone, causing no injuries.

The attack by Ukrainian drones led to disruptions at 13 Russian airports early Tuesday, Russian media reported, citing Russia's air transport safety agency.

In addition to Moscow's four airports, flight restrictions were imposed at airports in Kaluga, Volgograd, Saratov, Samara, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Kazan and Nizhnekamsk, the state-owned TASS news agency reported.

The attacks hit the Russian capital for the second night in a row as Moscow prepares for Friday's Victory Day parade marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. The parade will be attended by leaders of Russia's allies, including China's Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned over the weekend that his government could not guarantee the safety of foreign delegations visiting Moscow for Friday's parade, despite Putin's call for a three-day ceasefire while Russian forces continue to attack Ukraine.

“We cannot be held responsible for what happens on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy told reporters.