Russia is using "Victory Day" to blackmail Ukraine with new strikes

The aggressor country Russia announced the alleged introduction of a ceasefire regime on 8-9 May 2026 in connection with upcoming events for “Victory Day”. On 4 May 2026 the Russian Ministry of Defense reported this. According to the Russian ministry, the decision was allegedly made by Vladimir Putin.

However, the Russians simultaneously made threats against Ukraine. In particular, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that if Ukraine attempts to “disrupt the Victory Day celebrations” Russian forces would allegedly strike the center of Kyiv.

“The civilian population of Kyiv and the staff of foreign diplomatic missions should promptly leave the city of Kyiv in case of ‘attempts to disrupt the parade’,” — warn the Russian Ministry of Defense.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Ukrainian side was not officially informed about a possible ceasefire on 9 May:

“You know, the Americans talked with the Russians about what might happen on May 9 — cease fire or not cease fire (ceasefire — ed.). No one officially contacted us, nothing was officially proposed… A ceasefire for one day, and before that killing our people — that’s unfair,” Zelensky said.

Previously we wrote:

• Kim again made a prediction: the war may end, but there is one big “if”
• Zelensky on the Easter ceasefire: Ukraine will act in kind; last year the Russian Federation violated it more than 2,000 times
• Russia is ready for a truce, but only if Ukraine is left without weapons
• While the Kremlin prepares the parade, bombs are falling over the Sumy region: “truce” as a cover
• Zelensky rejected Putin’s “theatrical” truce: Ukraine insists on a ceasefire for at least 30 days