Russia cancels MAKS air show for fourth year as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Moscow region

Russia has canceled the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS for the fourth year in a row, following a pattern of scaled-back public events. The decision comes in the context of sustained Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes on refineries, technology sites, and military facilities around Moscow. These attacks have increased pressure on Russian security, leading to the cancellation of major public gatherings. The MAKS air show, traditionally held at Zhukovsky airfield near Moscow, has not taken place since 2022. While Russian authorities have not officially cited the drone strikes as the reason, analysts point to the growing threat as a key factor in the repeated cancellations.