Estonian military blogger: Ukrainian drones targeted Kremlin parade pilots

Teet Kalmus, a well-known Estonian military blogger, reported that Ukraine specifically targeted elite Russian aerobatic pilots slated to perform in the May 9th parade on Red Square. 

The attacks were aimed at grounding the "Russkiye Vityazi" (Russian Knights) and "Strizhi" (Swifts) stunt flying teams, whose planes were parked at the Kubinka airbase.
Confirmed drone strikes set off fires at both the Kubinka airfield in the Moscow region and the Shaikovka airfield in Kaluga Oblast. NASA satellites recorded multiple hotspots indicating significant blazes on the premises.

In a bold move just days before Russia’s annual Victory Day parade, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck two key military airfields near Moscow, damaging aircraft and igniting fires that were visible from space, according to both Ukrainian sources and satellite imagery.

Kubinka is home to a range of military aircraft, including Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets. It was also previously struck on July 4, 2023, when a Ukrainian drone hit an administrative building. According to the Ukrainian outlet RBK-Ukraine, the base’s aircraft were being prepped for the high-profile parade—making the timing of this attack a symbolic and strategic blow.

Meanwhile, the Shaikovka airfield hosts long-range Tu-22M3 bombers and houses an arsenal of Kh-22 missiles. Fires were also confirmed there via satellite imagery, suggesting damage to infrastructure or munitions storage.

The coordinated drone strikes appear designed to disrupt the Kremlin’s showcase of military power just ahead of Victory Day—an event President Vladimir Putin uses to project strength both domestically and internationally. The inability of Russia to protect even the airfields closest to its capital will be seen as a major embarrassment for the Kremlin.