KABUL (Pajhwok): Russia and Ukraine have separately announced temporary ceasefires ahead of World War II Victory Day commemorations.
The Moscow Times reported both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared limited truces amid the ongoing war between the two countries.
Russia on Monday announced a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine from May 8 to 9, coinciding with Moscow’s annual Victory Day commemorations. It also warned of a “massive missile strike” on Kyiv if Ukraine violated the truce.
Ukraine, in response, announced its own ceasefire from May 5 to 6, saying it was “not serious” to expect compliance during a Russian military holiday.
Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes killed nine people across Ukraine on Monday, while a Ukrainian drone reportedly crashed into a high-rise building in an upscale Moscow neighbourhood overnight.
“In accordance with a decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared from May 8–9, 2026… We hope that the Ukrainian side will follow suit,” the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement on the state-backed messaging service MAX.
It further warned: “If the Kyiv regime attempts to implement its criminal plans to disrupt the celebration of the 81st anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian Armed Forces will launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the centre of Kyiv.”
The statement also urged civilians in Kyiv and foreign diplomatic staff to leave the city immediately.
On the other hand, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would implement its own ceasefire from midnight May 5 to 6, stressing that the decision was made in response to the ongoing war and to protect civilian lives.
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