Humiliated Putin forced to cancel Russia Day in Red Square after Ukrainian drone strikes slam key Moscow targets

New York Post ^ | 12 June 2026 | Daniel Cody

[Apparatchik]

Strongman Vladimir Putin was forced to halt his annual Russia Day showcase in Moscow’s Red Square for the first time in 23 years Friday, after a Ukrainian attack battered key energy targets and sparked massive fires on Russian soil.

Kyiv launched drone strikes overnight into Friday on critical Russian energy and transportation points, including the Armiansk Bridge, which connects occupied Crimea with the motherland.

The bombing of the bridge “completely paralysed” a key logistical route and destroyed about 50 vehicles carrying fuel and ammunition, according to Ukraine’s 1st Separate Assault Regiment Da Vinci.

Moscow’s centerpiece Russia Day concert was hastily moved to the Mossovet Cultural Centre in the eastern part of the city, following the airstrikes. Historically celebrated in Red Square, it marked the first time the holiday events will take place outside of the square since 2003.

The concert, titled “In the Unity of the Peoples Lies the Strength of Russia,” was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. local time, but most of the entertainment bailed — including prominent Russian singer Shaman — or were nixed from the performance.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Russia; Ukraine; War
KEYWORDS: another; azovrecruitersonline; bananahammock; bilgewater; cancelled; dailycalltoprayer; event; foreigners4bidenbux; frdonationkiller; humiliating; proxywar; russophrenia; russophrenicsonfr; ryanrouthapproves; sendanothertrillion; swampniks4foreverwar; swampniksonfr; thatsitwarsover; ukiepropaganda; ukraine; welfarewar; zeeperporn; zeepersarerinosdude

[Apparatchik]

Happy Russia Day, everyone!

[Red6]

Drones are hard to spot and stop, as our USN in the Persian Gulf can attest too also.

[Vermont Lt]

What a shame. I look forward to celebrating the victory over Ukraine every spring. One year it will happen.

[Uncle Lonny]

Scrappy those Ukrainians.

[OrangeHoof]

Sounds like propaganda to me. Where has this tactic been for the past five years or so? Did the drones only show up now? If it was easy, it should have done a long time ago.

[MotorCityBuck]

For you UkTard…
https://youtu.be/6KLWqb49Zo4
Military Summary Channel - Facts on the ground.

[marktwain]

Where has this tactic been for the past five years or so? Did the drones only show up now? If it was easy, it should have done a long time ago.

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The Ukraininans have been developing and perfecting drone warfare for the entire war.

We have seen more and more effective drone warfare from the Ukrainians, and frankly, from the Russians as well.

The Ukrainians have improved more and faster than the Russians have.

[Apparatchik]

Did the drones only show up now?

In a manner of speaking, yes. It has taken Ukraine five years to develop its own drone and missile production capability and through constant experimentation and spiral development resulting from combat with Russia, perfected these systems that can now reach deep inside Russia and the occupied territories like Crimea.

Because of Russian ineptitude that caused what was supposed to be a rapid thrust and capture to become a years-long slog, Ukraine has used that time to build an army of drones. Another example of how incompetent Putin is.

[TexasGator]

“Sounds like propaganda to me. “

What? Putin didn’t have it in your daily update?

[Kudsman]

Drones for everyone. Drones everywhere!

[MinorityRepublican]

No one is winning this war. Putin and Zelensky both refuse to negotiate so this war can easily last for another 10 years.

[alexander_busek]

Sounds like propaganda to me. Where has this tactic been for the past five years or so? Did the drones only show up now? If it was easy, it should have done a long time ago.

Why did the Allies wait until June 6, 1944 to launch D-Day and land on the beaches of Normandy? Why did they wait so long? Why didn't they do it earlier? Hence: It must have been propaganda!

Regards,

[Mr. Lucky]

Well played.

[alexander_busek]

Drones are hard to spot and stop, as our USN in the Persian Gulf can attest too also.

Putin's Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) targeting Ukrainian suburbs, residential areas, hospital zones, and elementary schools are likewise difficult to spot and stop.

What's your point?

Regards,

[Eli Kopter]

If you want to see how they did it, check it out on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ukraine+DESTROYS+Russia+Best+Warships+-+Then+Blew+Putin

I am not so sure Russia can beat them. I doubt that Ukraine can beat Russia either, but they can sure make them pay for it (like the 100 Year War).

[alexander_busek]

No one is winning this war.

Brave Ukraine is battling against a blood-thirsty foe with four times its population. The valiant Ukrainians are fighting to protect their homeland. The Russian invaders must vanquish the Ukrainian defenders in order to win; the Ukrainians need only survive to avoid defeat.

Regards,

[desertsolitaire]

Is the amount of money and other resources spent on all those intermediate range Russian missiles to shoot into Ukraine worth the benefit to Russia? Plus putting up with the increasing drone attacks into Russia from Ukraine. At some point stubbornness to continue versus cost of it will force change in tactics or an end, no?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Scrappy those Ukrainians.

Rah! Rah! Sis-boom-bah! GO TEAM!!! YAAAAY!!!!!