Russia cancels navy day celebrations over drone threats from Ukraine

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated with significant developments on July 28, 2025. In response to persistent Ukrainian drone attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin was compelled to scale down the navy celebration parades that were set to take place on Navy Day. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced the cancellation, stating that it was primarily driven by security concerns related to the overall situation. The drone threats also led to the temporary closure of Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg, affecting numerous flights early on that Sunday morning. Amid these heightened tensions, five individuals sustained injuries due to a separate Russian airstrike on Kyiv, which targeted residential areas and caused damage to buildings. The attack occurred shortly after air raid alerts were issued across most of Ukraine, triggered by warnings from the Ukrainian Air Force about possible missile and drone strikes from Russia. This led to widespread anxiety in the capital, where local officials revealed that the blast waves impacted multi-storey apartment buildings, leaving residents in fear of more strikes. The Ukrainian military has been on high alert, particularly after experiencing a major global outage of the Starlink satellite communications system, which hindered military operations across the frontlines. A senior Ukrainian commander confirmed that communication systems were down for two and a half hours overnight. This technical disruption adds to the ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine as it navigates the complexities of warfare under constant threats from Russia. Starlink's previous outages have had significant implications for military coordination and strategic planning. In a broader context, both nations continue to exchange accusations concerning accountability for the escalation of violence. Russia has asserted that Ukraine and Western countries rejected diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing hostilities. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated this narrative, alleging that Moscow’s actions are justified as attempts to find a political solution were dismissed by Ukraine and its allies. This grim assessment highlights the stalled peace talks and indicates a further entrenchment of both sides in their conflict, continuing to shape regional stability and global security concerns.