Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Defense Industry While Russian Missiles Kill 14 Civilians as Moscow Prepares for Victory Day
Summary of the Day – May 7, 2025
Ukrainian long-range drones struck deep inside Russia today, hitting critical defense facilities in Saransk, Tula, and Moscow Oblast, while Russian forces unleashed 187 drones and five ballistic missiles against Ukraine, killing 14 civilians. Moscow’s airports closed as drone threats disrupted air traffic. Ukrainian forces advanced into Tetkino in Kursk Oblast, while Russian troops gained ground in multiple sectors. U.S. Vice President Vance acknowledged Russia’s “excessive demands” in peace talks, as Putin and Venezuela’s Maduro signed a strategic partnership. The Donetsk Prosecutor’s Office reported the execution of three Ukrainian POWs, and two volunteers, including a British mine clearance expert, were killed near Izium. Meanwhile, Russian authorities announced internet restrictions for Victory Day celebrations, citing security concerns.
Ukrainian soldiers conduct a search operation in a damaged building, accompanied by a dog, as they inspect the aftermath of a recent Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia. The shelling caused damage to 15 apartment buildings and over 45 private homes across three districts. Energy infrastructure was also hit, and four civilians were injured. (Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration / Handout / Anadolu via Getty Images)
Strategic Targets: Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Defense Facilities
Ukrainian drones conducted precision strikes today against several critical defense industry facilities inside Russia. Sources within Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent that their long-range drones successfully hit the Bazalt plant in Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow Oblast—Russia’s primary weapons manufacturer—and the Splav plant in Tula, producer of multiple-launch rocket systems including Grad, Uragan, and Smerch systems.
A screenshot from a video released by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) showing smoke from an explosion the night sky above Moscow Oblast, Russia, following a reported Ukrainian drone strike. (SBU)
“The fiber optic systems plant in Saransk was very seriously damaged after the strike,” Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, confirmed today. The facility in Mordovia Republic is Russia’s only fiber optic cable manufacturer and a critical supplier of materials for military fiber-optic drones resistant to electronic warfare interference. Independent Russian outlet Astra reported that a second fire erupted at the nearby Saranskkabel plant following the strikes. Local residents described several powerful explosions shaking the city’s industrial district around 6 a.m.
Smoke rises over the site of a reported attack at a Russian Optic Fiber Systems plant in Saransk, Mordovia Republic, Russia. (Astra / Telegram)
Ukrainian forces also targeted the Shaykovka Airbase in Kaluga Oblast, home to Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, and the Kubinka Airbase in Moscow Oblast, where Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets are based. Russian milbloggers, including sources affiliated with the Russian Aerospace Forces, confirmed today’s strikes on Kubinka, noting that personnel and equipment for the upcoming Victory Day parade were stationed in the affected areas.
Airport Shutdowns: Moscow Airspace Closed After Drone Attacks
Ukrainian drone incursions today forced Russian authorities to implement emergency security protocols, shutting down civilian air traffic across Moscow. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency announced that flight operations were suspended from 7:15 p.m. local time at Domodedovo Airport—the largest one in Moscow—as well as at Zhukovsky and Kaluga airports.
“Air defense forces of the Defense Ministry repelled another drone attack on Moscow,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Telegram today, noting that debris fell in multiple areas where emergency crews were dispatched. He later confirmed that at least seven drones were shot down over the course of the evening.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that air defenses shot down at least nine drones over Kaluga Oblast, at least six over Tula Oblast, and at least two over Moscow Oblast during today’s attacks. Pro-Kremlin sources reported significant disruptions to air operations, with numerous flights delayed or canceled, affecting thousands of passengers.
Communication Controls: Russia Announces Internet Restrictions
Russian authorities today announced plans to restrict mobile network usage across multiple regions on May 9, claiming the measures are necessary to “ensure security” during Victory Day celebrations. Officials in the republics of Chuvashia and Tatarstan, as well as Voronezh and Tver oblasts, issued warnings about the impending connectivity limitations.
“These are not disruptions, but restrictions for obvious reasons. We want the glorious Victory Day to be celebrated at the appropriate level,” Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated today, adding that Russians “must treat this with absolute understanding.”
Several Russian banks and internet giant Yandex warned that the disconnection would likely affect access to banking, taxi, courier, and public transportation services, particularly in Moscow City and Oblast. Russian media reported that over 30 Russian cities experienced difficulties connecting to the internet during today’s Ukrainian drone strikes, with all of Saransk and several other settlements in the Republic of Mordovia completely disconnected.
Civilian Casualties: Russian Strikes Kill 14 Across Ukraine
Russian forces launched a massive combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight and throughout today, killing at least 14 people and wounding 54 across multiple regions. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 187 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones, and five Iskander-M ballistic missiles from regions near the Ukrainian border.
A view of the destroyed top floor of a residential high-rise building after a Russian drone attack, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Yan Dobronosov / Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
In Kyiv, a woman and her son were killed when a Russian drone struck a five-story apartment building in the Shevchenkivskyi district early this morning. Eight others were wounded, including four children, three of whom were hospitalized with severe burns. The building now has a large, black hole on the upper floor where the drone struck.
“Tetiana and I grew up together,” Liudmyla, a resident on the fourth floor, told reporters today. “My God, she was still active, even though she was a pensioner. She fed all the birds, dogs, and cats.” According to the Kyiv Animal Rescue Group, both victims were volunteers for the organization and looked after 10 cats in their apartment. Only one is known to have survived.
A view on a burned flat of a residential building damaged as a result of a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine (Danylo Antoniuk/The Kyiv Independent)
Regional authorities reported that Russian attacks today killed four people, including one child, and wounded 14 civilians in Sumy Oblast. In Donetsk Oblast, four people were killed and 10 injured. Two people died and six were wounded in Kherson Oblast, where strikes damaged a high-rise building and nine houses. In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed and at least four injured, including a 16-year-old. Eight people were injured in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with two in serious condition, while four were wounded in Zaporizhzhia Oblast during at least 13 separate attacks.
Diplomatic Standoff: Vance Says Russia “Asking for Too Much”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance today publicly acknowledged growing frustration within the Trump administration over stalled peace efforts, stating that Russia is “asking for too much” to end its war against Ukraine. Speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, Vance offered a candid assessment of the diplomatic impasse.
“The Russians are asking for a certain set of requirements, a certain set of concessions in order to end the conflict. We think they’re asking for too much,” Vance said, reflecting what he described as a shift in the White House’s approach toward President Vladimir Putin.
Vance added that while Trump is ready to step away from the talks, the administration’s current priority is getting both sides to engage directly. “We would like both the Russians and the Ukrainians to actually agree on some basic guidelines for sitting down and talking to one another,” he said. “That is the next big step we’d like to take.”
Responding to recent statements about Ukraine’s proposal for a demilitarized zone, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed today that Moscow has not received any proposals from Kyiv regarding the establishment of a buffer zone along the front line, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Battlefield Movements: Russian and Ukrainian Forces Exchange Advances
Russian forces made confirmed advances in multiple areas along the frontline today. Geolocated footage published on May 7 indicates Russian troops gained ground in central Vovchansk northeast of Kharkiv City; at the Severny Mine north of Chasiv Yar; in northern Novoolenivka west of Toretsk; on the eastern outskirts of Novoserhiivka northeast of Novopavlivka; in eastern Troitske southeast of Novopavlivka; and east of Novopil southwest of Velyka Novosilka.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces advanced across the international border into southern Tetkino, Kursk Oblast. Geolocated footage published today shows Russian forces conducting an airstrike against a building in southern Tetkino, indicating that Ukrainian forces seized positions within the settlement. Russian milbloggers claimed Ukrainian forces captured up to two streets in southern Tetkino, though some asserted that Russian forces, including elements of the 56th Airborne Regiment, later pushed Ukrainian forces out.
In the Toretsk direction, the commander of a Ukrainian battalion operating there reported today that Russian forces are using about 150 first-person view (FPV) drones per day with fiber optic cables to strike Ukrainian logistics. These drones hover low near supply routes to target Ukrainian vehicles, with Russian forces bringing the fiber optic cable drones to forward positions on foot to strike Ukrainian rear areas. The commander explained that Russian forces deliberately target supply routes, making it increasingly difficult to maintain Ukrainian logistics in the area.
Mine Clearance Tragedy: British Expert Killed Near Izium
Two volunteers, including British humanitarian and mine disposal expert Chris Garrett, died in an explosion near the eastern Ukrainian town of Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, the charity Prevail Humanitarian Aid confirmed today. Garrett, who served as founder and chairman of the organization, was killed in an incident that occurred on May 6, with confirmation of his death coming today.
Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier and Ukrainian marine, announced the news on behalf of the charity: “It has now been confirmed that two of the three critically injured individuals have sadly passed away. I can confirm that Chris was among those who died,” Pinner wrote on social media this morning.
Garrett, 42, from the Isle of Man, was widely known for his high-risk volunteer work removing mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russian forces. Prevail Humanitarian Aid, which provides support to Ukrainian government agencies with landmine clearance, trauma medical care, and humanitarian assistance, stated that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
“We are still gathering information and working alongside military and police officials to uncover the details,” Pinner said, adding that the organization “can’t and will not comment during an ongoing investigation.”
Russia-Venezuela Alliance: Putin and Maduro Sign Strategic Partnership
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signed the Russia-Venezuela Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement today in Moscow. The wide-ranging agreement covers enhanced defense cooperation and coordination; the “legacy and falsification” of colonialism; arms control and non-proliferation including in space; organized crime and terrorism; international information security; and energy and economic cooperation.
The agreement notably includes a provision for the development of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Venezuela. Maduro is in Moscow for the May 9 Victory Day celebrations, with the signed accord representing a significant diplomatic success for the Kremlin to showcase to international audiences just two days before the parade.
This strategic partnership builds on 17 previous agreements signed between the two countries in November 2024, including eight strategic-level accords covering intelligence sharing, counterespionage, drone use, and petroleum technologies. Today’s signing ceremony highlights Russia’s continuing efforts to strengthen relations with Venezuela and contest U.S. influence in the Western hemisphere.
War Crimes Documentation: POW Executions and EU Chemical Weapons Sanctions
The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported today that Russian forces executed three surrendering Ukrainian prisoners of war on May 3 near Novopil, southwest of Velyka Novosilka. According to the prosecutor’s statement, the Ukrainian soldiers had clearly indicated their intention to surrender before being summarily executed, constituting a direct violation of the Geneva Convention.
Separately, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Current Time outlet reported today that the European Council has prepared a new sanctions package against the Russian Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, 27th Scientific Center, and 33rd Scientific Research and Testing Institute.
The sanctions package reportedly cites November 2024 and February 2025 reports from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that detail how Russian forces used chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS) gas—a type of riot control agent banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention—near Marivka and Ilinka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The OPCW found traces of CS gas in soil and water tests following Russian strikes, which explains its presence in areas beyond the current frontline.
Ukrainian officials continue to document what they describe as systematic violations of international law by Russian forces, with today’s report adding to a growing body of evidence being collected for potential future war crimes prosecutions.
Defense Cooperation: Lithuania Considers Drone Production With Ukraine
Lithuania is considering launching domestic production of naval drones in cooperation with Ukraine, Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi in an interview published today. The proposed partnership would operate under a “1+1” model, with Lithuania funding the production of two drones, keeping one for its own defense and sending the other to Ukraine.
“Magura, in my view, is an excellent military product,” Sakaliene said, referring to Ukraine’s Magura-class sea drones that have been used with success against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The initiative would involve shared weapons production on Lithuanian soil, with Vilnius covering the costs for both units.
“That is, we pay for the production of two pieces of equipment, one of which is transferred to Ukraine, and the other remains in Lithuania, but we cover the cost for both,” she explained. Sakaliene emphasized that Lithuania sees great potential in closer cooperation on technologies like missile and naval drones.
“We believe that cooperation in certain areas related to missile drones, sea drones, and other technologies is truly very promising,” she said in today’s interview.
German Outreach: Merz Plans Ukraine Visit to Promote Ceasefire
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced today that he plans to visit Ukraine soon as part of efforts to promote a long-term ceasefire with Russia. Speaking during a visit to Paris, Merz said the trip is currently being coordinated and emphasized that the European Union must do “everything possible” to help secure a lasting cessation of hostilities.
“The key question is whether Russia is prepared for a 30-day ceasefire,” Merz said, according to German broadcaster Tagesschau. He also linked the prospect of German security guarantees for Ukraine to the establishment of a sustainable truce, which he said should pave the way for a future peace agreement with Moscow.
Merz’s remarks come as Russia prepares for a unilateral ceasefire announced around the time of its annual Victory Day celebrations. The Kremlin has declared a “humanitarian truce” from May 8 to May 11, claiming it would halt military operations during the period.