Russia cancels major military festival amid drone attacks

Russia has canceled the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, a major event held annually in Red Square, just four days before its scheduled start. Organizers announced on Telegram that the festival has been postponed until 2027 due to circumstances beyond their control. This decision comes amid a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks targeting the Russian capital. Overnight, Ukrainian forces launched one of the largest assaults on Moscow in recent months, with reports indicating over 600 drones were directed toward the city and its surrounding region. These strikes reportedly targeted facilities like the Wildberries online marketplace and logistics warehouses, resulting in fires and one fatality. The Spasskaya Tower festival, which began in 2007, is one of Russia's prominent military-themed events. It was previously canceled only once in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of international participants has decreased since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Earlier in June, a gala concert marking Russia Day was also canceled in Red Square, and the May 9 Victory Day parade was held on a limited scale without heavy military equipment.