The Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, scheduled to take place from August 21 for nine days, has been canceled for the second time in its history. Organizers cited 'reasons beyond their control' in a brief statement. The festival, which has been held since 2007 with government support, was previously canceled only during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cancellation follows a series of drone attacks on Moscow, with reports indicating that over 600 drones were launched at the city on a recent Sunday, resulting in at least seven fatalities. Moscow regional governor Andrey Vorobyov described the event as one of the most significant drone attacks in recent memory.
This cancellation is part of a broader trend of event cancellations that have occurred in Russia, including the annual Russia Day concert and Victory Day celebrations, both of which were significantly reduced or canceled due to unspecified threats. Additionally, the Dronnitsa combat drone convention, scheduled for August 29-30 in Veliky Novgorod, has also been scrapped.
The ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive has intensified, targeting Russian infrastructure and businesses, including drone strikes on Wildberries, a major e-commerce platform in Russia. These developments have contributed to a perception of instability within the Russian government and military operations.