Moscow Cancels Military Festival amid Drone Attacks

Russian organizers have unexpectedly canceled the major Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival on Moscow’s Red Square.

According to Politico, the decision was announced just four days before the event was due to begin. Organizers said the festival had been postponed until 2027 because of “circumstances beyond their control”.

The prestigious festival was established in 2007 and is one of Russia’s most prominent military events, alongside the Victory Day and Navy Day parades.

It was previously canceled in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and again in 2023 because of security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine. International participation has also declined significantly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The cancellation comes amid an escalation in Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian capital. In the latest major attack, around 600 drones were sent towards Moscow and the surrounding region. The strikes also targeted logistics facilities, including a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer.

For security reasons, the Kremlin had already canceled the Russia Day concert in June, while the Victory Day celebrations on 9 May took place without heavy military equipment.

(max)