For the second night in a row, the Kremlin has reported downing Ukrainian attack drones on their approach to Moscow. While not an unprecedented event, the timing of these attacks on the Russian capital has not gone unnoticed, coming just days before the much-vaunted Victory Day parade in the center of the city set to take place on May 9. "I think Ukraine is reminding Russia that it can't act with impunity in Ukraine and not expect any payback," former U.K. Defense Attache in Moscow, John Forem
    • realitista@lemm.eeOP
      16·
      5 days ago

      It’s probably not a good use of resources as all the air defense is there and there’s a chance of killing a foreign leader. Best to blow up everything else that’s had its air defense pulled away. But the temptation to humiliate Putin is always there.

      • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
        14·
        5 days ago

        There’s also the point that foreign leaders visiting Ukraine have so far not (seemingly) been directly targeted. It’s not in Ukraine’s interest to set a precedent for targeting foreign leaders in the country. Not that russia has ever cared about precedent, but this is one thing they actually haven’t done already, so it’s probably best to avoid it.

        Also, foreign leaders getting hit is a pretty sure route to having more countries step in on russias side.

        On the other hand, if they were able to strike military units in the parade before they get to the red square, that would be a show of force hitting a legitimate military target without the risk of hitting foreign leaders, and with fewer civilians around. This parade could get interesting…