Russia’s Defense Ministry announced a “truce” from May 8 to May 10 in connection with the 81st anniversary of victory in World War II and threatened Ukraine with a “massive missile strike on central Kyiv” in the event of attempts to “disrupt the May 9 celebrations” in Moscow.
The Russian ministry claimed that combat operations, as well as missile, artillery, and drone strikes against Ukraine, would allegedly be suspended during that period.
The Russian Defense Ministry also called on Ukraine to “follow this example” and warned of an “adequate response” if the “truce” were violated.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had previously proposed a ceasefire to Russia, including starting from May 6, but instead received “new Russian strikes and threats.”
“They want permission from Ukraine to hold their parade, so they can safely walk onto the square for one hour once a year and then continue killing our people and waging war,” Zelenskyy said.
The president also stated that Russia is already talking about strikes after May 9 and called such logic “strange and clearly inadequate.”
In addition, Zelenskyy reported new results of Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian territory.
According to him, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces and other elements of the Defense Forces struck targets in the Caspian Sea region, including a missile ship capable of launching Kalibr missiles.
The president also said that an oil industry facility in Russia’s Perm region had been hit. Ukrainian intelligence is also recording “satisfactory results” from strikes in the Bryansk direction, Tuapse, and several Russian oil facilities.
Separately, Zelenskyy said that some countries close to Russia are planning to send representatives to Moscow for the May 9 events.
“A strange desire… on these days. We do not recommend it,” the Ukrainian president said.
