Russia downs 37 drones over Moscow amid ceasefire violations
Synopsis
Russia shot down 37 drones over Moscow on Friday alone — and 145 across the country in just seven hours — even as a declared Victory Day ceasefire crumbled, with both sides trading accusations of violations and Zelensky posting real-time strike tallies on X. A drone strike on a key air navigation hub simultaneously grounded or disrupted flights at 13 airports across southern Russia.
Key Takeaways
Russian air defence downed at least 37 drones flying toward Moscow on 8 May 2025 , with emergency services deployed at debris sites.
Across Russia, 145 Ukrainian drones were shot down in seven hours between 7 am and 2 pm Moscow time.
A Ukrainian drone strike on the Southern Russia Air Navigation branch disrupted operations at 13 airports across southern Russia.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed over 1,300 ceasefire violations by Ukrainian forces; President Zelensky said Russia launched more than 140 strikes and 10 assaults by 7 am local time.
Russia had announced a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday to mark Victory Day ; Ukraine said it would begin its own ceasefire from Wednesday .
Russian air defence forces shot down at least 37 drones flying toward Moscow on Friday, 8 May, as the Russian capital faced a fresh wave of aerial attacks. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the intercepts on Telegram, adding that emergency services were deployed at sites where debris from the downed drones had fallen.
Scale of the Drone Offensive
Earlier on Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry said air defence systems had shot down 145 Ukrainian drones in just seven hours — between 7 am and 2 pm Moscow time (0400–1100 GMT) — across multiple regions. The intensity marks a sharp escalation from the previous day: on Thursday, Moscow experienced one of the largest drone attacks of the year, with 61 drones downed throughout the day, according to Sobyanin.
Airport Operations Disrupted Across Southern Russia
A separate Ukrainian drone strike on the administrative building of the Southern Russia Air Navigation branch disrupted operations at 13 airports across southern Russia, the Russian Ministry of Transport said on Friday. The regional air traffic control centre in Rostov-on-Don, which manages air traffic across the south, was forced to temporarily adjust its operations following the strike.
All personnel at the facility were reported safe, with specialists assessing the equipment's operational status. The ministry and the Federal Air Transport Agency said they were coordinating with airlines and airports to revise flight schedules and modify air traffic management procedures across the affected region.
Ceasefire in Name Only
Both Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Friday of continuing attacks despite a declared ceasefire. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed in a Telegram statement that Ukrainian forces had carried out more than 1,300 ceasefire violations, including drone strikes and artillery attacks on border regions, and said Russian forces had responded with retaliatory strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky countered that Russian forces had continued overnight attacks along the frontline and launched hundreds of drone strikes. In a post on X, Zelensky said that as of 7 am local time (0400 GMT), Russia had carried out more than 140 strikes and 10 assaults on Ukraine's positions along the frontline, and that Ukraine would respond in kind.
Background: The Disputed Ceasefire
On Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry announced a ceasefire with Ukraine covering Friday and Saturday to mark the World War II Victory Day commemorations. However, Zelensky said Ukraine would implement its own ceasefire starting Wednesday — a divergence that set the stage for the mutual accusations now unfolding. With both sides claiming the other struck first, the prospect of even a brief pause in hostilities appears increasingly remote as the conflict enters another critical phase.
Point of View
In practice, functioned as a propaganda exercise rather than a genuine pause in hostilities — with both sides using it as a frame to accuse the other of bad faith. The disruption of 13 airports across southern Russia from a single drone strike on an air navigation hub is a significant tactical development that mainstream coverage has underplayed. It signals Ukraine's growing ability to strike critical civilian infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, not just symbolic or military targets. The mutual ceasefire-violation accounting — Russia claiming 1,300 violations, Zelensky posting real-time strike tallies on X — also reflects how information warfare has become inseparable from the kinetic conflict itself.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drones were shot down over Moscow on 8 May 2025?
Russian air defence forces shot down at least 37 drones flying toward Moscow on Friday, 8 May, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Across all of Russia, 145 Ukrainian drones were intercepted in a seven-hour window between 7 am and 2 pm Moscow time.
How did the drone strike affect airports in southern Russia?
A Ukrainian drone strike on the administrative building of the Southern Russia Air Navigation branch in Rostov-on-Don disrupted operations at 13 airports across the region. The Russian Ministry of Transport said flight schedules were being revised and air traffic management procedures modified; all personnel at the facility were reported safe.
Was there a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on 8 May?
Russia had announced a ceasefire covering Friday and Saturday to mark World War II Victory Day, but Ukraine said it would begin its own ceasefire from Wednesday. Both sides accused each other of continuing attacks, with Russia claiming over 1,300 violations and President Zelensky citing more than 140 Russian strikes by 7 am local time.
What did President Zelensky say about the Russian attacks?
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces continued overnight attacks along the frontline and launched hundreds of drone strikes. In a post on X, he stated that as of 7 am local time, Russia had carried out more than 140 strikes and 10 assaults on Ukraine's frontline positions, and that Ukraine would respond in kind.
How does the 8 May attack compare to previous drone strikes on Moscow?
The 8 May attack, with 37 drones downed over Moscow, followed what officials described as one of the largest drone attacks of the year on Thursday, when 61 drones were intercepted over the capital throughout the day. The back-to-back strikes indicate a sustained escalation in aerial offensive activity targeting Moscow.
