Russia has said it intends to pause hostilities on May 8–9 to mark Victory Day, while simultaneously warning of a possible “massive strike” on Kyiv if the celebrations are disrupted.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, a temporary halt in fighting is planned for those dates. The ministry also said it expects Ukraine to take similar steps and claimed it would “ensure the security” of commemorative events.
However, the announcement was coupled with a clear warning: any actions that Moscow interprets as a threat to the celebrations could trigger a strike on Kyiv.
The declared “truce” therefore combines a call for de-escalation with a public threat of further attacks, highlighting the contradictory nature of signals coming from Moscow.