Russia Cancels Victory Day Parade in Sevastopol for Second Year Amid Drone Attacks and Moscow Mobile Network Disruptions

Russian authorities have canceled the Victory Day parade in Sevastopol, Crimea, for the second consecutive year, citing security concerns. The Kremlin-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, attributed the cancellation to security reasons following what he described as the "most massive" drone attack on Crimea and Sevastopol in 2025, reported on May 2. Concurrently, Moscow experienced widespread mobile network disruptions affecting major providers including Beeline, MTS, Megafon, Tele2, and Yota during rehearsals for the Victory Day air parade. Users also received SMS warnings about potential internet restrictions as part of heightened security measures. The disruptions extended to messaging apps and were part of a broader internet blackout amid fears of Ukrainian drone activity. Additionally, the cost of a short taxi ride in Moscow has risen sharply, reaching approximately 10% of the median Russian salary.