Moscow announced a unilateral ceasefire in hostilities for May 8 and 9, coinciding with commemorations of victory in the Second World War.
The Russian Defence Ministry said the ceasefire was ordered by President Vladimir Putin as part of annual celebrations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany.
However, Moscow warned that any violation by Ukrainian forces would trigger a “massive missile strike” against Kyiv. According to the Russian statement, if Ukraine attempts to disrupt the Victory Day events, Russian forces would respond with a large-scale missile strike on the Ukrainian capital.
The ministry also warned civilians in Kyiv and foreign diplomatic staff to leave the city without delay, without providing further details.
Russia holds its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square to mark what it calls the “Great Patriotic War” victory in 1945.
Ukraine responds with short ceasefire
In response, Ukraine announced its own unilateral ceasefire, lasting from midnight Tuesday May 5 to midnight Wednesday May 6.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was “not serious” to expect a temporary ceasefire solely to allow Russia to hold commemorations, adding that Moscow appeared concerned about Ukrainian drone activity over Red Square.
Zelensky said Kyiv had not received any formal ceasefire proposal with clear conditions through official diplomatic channels.
Continued fighting and civilian casualties
Despite the announcements, fighting continued on the ground.
Ukrainian authorities reported that a Russian missile strike killed seven civilians in the town of Merefa near Kharkiv, while a drone attack killed a couple in southern Ukraine.
The Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office said the strike likely involved an Iskander ballistic missile.
The Kharkiv region, close to the Russian border, has faced near-daily attacks since the start of the war in 2022.
Ukraine has been fighting Russia’s invasion for more than four years, in what has become the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War. According to analysis cited from the Institute for the Study of War, Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine shrank slightly in April, marking a rare reversal since Ukraine’s counteroffensive in 2023.
The conflict continues to evolve amid limited diplomatic progress, while global attention remains divided between Ukraine and other geopolitical crises.
Source: CNA
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