“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 post on state-backed messaging app MAX.
“If the Kiev 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 Kiev.”
“We warn the civilian population of Kiev and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city promptly,” it added.
