There were some anxious moments for an Indian parliamentary delegation as the plane carrying it had to circle the sky above Moscow amidst the chaos after a drone attack.
The delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi has been sent on a diplomatic outreach in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tension that followed the Pahalgam terror attack. Other members of the delegation include MPs Rajiv Rai, Premchand Gupta, Captain Brijesh, Ashok Kumar Mittal, and former Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri.
Moscow Drone Attack: Mid-Air Scare
On May 22, chaos unfolded in the skies above Moscow. A major drone offensive—reportedly launched by Ukraine—sent Russian air defences scrambling and shut down three major airports. In the midst of it all, the flight carrying Indian MPs was about to land.
Their plane was forced to circle the airport for hours amid the emergency lockdown, before finally receiving clearance to land. Indian embassy officials met the visibly relieved delegation and swiftly escorted them to safety.
The delegation is among seven teams sent out by India to counter Pakistani disinformation and present the facts regarding cross-border terrorism and Operation Sindoor launched by India.
The timing of the drone strike on Moscow, coinciding with the delegation’s arrival, raised concerns. Russian President Vladimir Putin later claimed that Ukraine deliberately targets Moscow whenever foreign delegations arrive—an allegation he reportedly discussed with both Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
NSA Doval To Visit Moscow
India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval is set to visit Moscow for the 13th International Security Summit from May 27–29. His visit carries both symbolic and strategic weight: it comes as India leans further into its defence partnership with Russia—especially after the successful deployment of the Russian-made S-400 system and the India-Russia BrahMos missile during Operation Sindoor.
Doval is expected to reinforce India’s stance as a sovereign player in global security—not swayed by Western narratives or election-season diplomacy from Washington. In a region on edge, where diplomacy is under fire—literally—Doval’s visit could send a powerful message: India decides its own battles and chooses its allies on its own terms.
