War in Ukraine: Moscow imposes a ceasefire on kyiv, and threatens a “massive missile strike” in the event of violation

A ceasefire decided by Russia alone. The Russian army will observe a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine on May 8 and 9 for Russia’s May 9 commemorations of the Soviet victory against Nazi Germany in 1945, the Russian Defense Ministry announced Monday.

“In accordance with a decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, (President) Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared from May 8 to 9, 2026,” the ministry said in a message posted on MAX, a state-backed messaging application.

“If the kyiv regime attempts to implement its criminal plans to disrupt the celebrations of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian armed forces will launch a massive retaliatory missile strike on the center of kyiv,” Moscow also threatened, through the same ministry.

Moscow had proposed a short truce for the May 9 commemorations in Russia of the Soviet victory against Nazi Germany, while kyiv is demanding a prolonged ceasefire to promote talks, which the Kremlin refuses.

After more than four years of large-scale war, intense fighting continues unabated on the front lines, while difficult diplomatic negotiations have been suspended since the outbreak of war in the Middle East. The area controlled by Russians in Ukraine shrank by some 120 km2 in April, which had not happened since the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the summer of 2023, according to data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).