Russia Declares Unilateral May Holiday Truce, Warns of Kyiv Strikes if Attacked

The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced a unilateral ceasefire scheduled for May 8 and 9, 2026. According to the statement from the Kremlin, the pause in hostilities is intended to mark the anniversary of the victory in World War II.

Moscow stated that the decision was made by Vladimir Putin and expressed an expectation that Ukraine would follow this example, according to Unian on May 4.

Despite the announcement of a truce, the Russian defense ministry included specific warnings regarding potential military actions. Russian officials stated that any attempts to disrupt their celebrations would result in a massive missile strike targeting the center of Kyiv.

The ministry claimed it had previously avoided such actions for humanitarian reasons but warned civilians and foreign diplomats to leave the capital city immediately. However, this narrative contradicts years of documented missile attacks on the capital that were only thwarted by Ukrainian air defenses.

This renewed aggression follows a drone strike on a high-rise in central Moscow earlier today, suggesting that the Kremlin’s threats—and its simultaneous calls for a ceasefire—are an attempt to project strength and freeze the frontline as the war increasingly reaches Russian soil.

In a related diplomatic development, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico confirmed he will travel to Moscow during this period. While he intends to meet with Putin, Fico stated he does not plan to attend the traditional military parade.

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The Slovak leader explained his visit as an act of remembrance for those who fought in the war. "I will lay flowers at the grave of the Unknown Soldier of the Red Army to express gratitude for the liberation on behalf of Slovak women and men, and I should have a short meeting with Putin. That's all. I am not going to attend any parade. It will be the same format as before," Fico said.

Russian authorities prepared sweeping restrictions on mobile communications across Moscow in the lead-up to the May 9 Victory Day parade. These measures, which were reported to be more extensive than in previous years, targeted mobile internet, SMS services, and even typically "whitelisted" platforms.

The planned disruptions were expected to cover the entire area within the city's ring road, significantly expanding the scope of previous shutdowns. This crackdown occurred alongside the Defense Ministry's confirmation that no military hardware would participate in the Red Square event for the first time since 2007.

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