The Ukrainian government has declared a ceasefire effective this Wednesday (May 6), two days before the truce announced by Moscow to mark the end of World War II, warning that it would retaliate against any Russian attack.
Moscow initially announced a ceasefire for May 8 and 9, but the Russian military warned that it could launch “a massive missile strike” on Kyiv if the truce is violated.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded on Monday night (May 4), announcing “a ceasefire starting at midnight on the night of May 5–6.”
“We will act reciprocally from that moment on,” Zelensky stated, adding that “it is time for Russian leaders to take concrete steps to end the war, especially since the Russian Ministry of Defense admits that it ‘cannot organize’ a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill.”
Russia annually marks Victory Day over Nazi Germany in 1945 with a military parade on Red Square in Moscow.
In recent days, Ukraine has intensified its launch of drones into Russian territory, with one such device striking the facade of a residential building in western Moscow.
“If the Kyiv regime attempts to carry out plans aimed at disrupting the celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian armed forces will respond with a massive missile strike against the center of Kyiv,” warned the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine has been advocating for a longer ceasefire to facilitate negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s large-scale invasion in February 2022—the bloodiest in Europe since World War II. Moscow rejects this possibility, arguing that an extended ceasefire would allow Kyiv to bolster its military capabilities.
“Peace cannot wait for ‘parades’ or ‘celebrations.’ If Moscow is willing to end hostilities, it can do so as early as tomorrow,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, adding that “May 6 will show whether Moscow is truly committed to peace or merely to military displays.”
Escalation of violence precedes ceasefire
The ceasefire between the rivals was preceded by intense shelling and reciprocal attacks. On Monday night into Tuesday, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian attacks in Kharkiv (northeast), Zaporizhzhia (south), and the outskirts of Kyiv, with residents of the capital being called upon to head to shelters due to a new air raid alert.
On the Russian side, several regions came under attack from Ukrainian drones, including Moscow, according to Russian officials.
On Monday, a Russian missile strike killed seven civilians in the town of Merefa, located near Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, and a drone attack killed a couple in a town in the south, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Source: Lusa
