Russia Ukraine Ceasefire
Moscow
Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Friday of violating a temporary ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Victory Day celebrations marking the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War Two.
The latest exchange of accusations came amid heightened tensions surrounding Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations on May 8 and 9, one of the country’s most significant national events. President Vladimir Putin had declared a unilateral two-day ceasefire intended to coincide with commemorations of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
However, Ukraine rejected the limited ceasefire proposal, arguing that a temporary halt only for the holiday was insufficient. Kyiv instead called for a broader and indefinite truce beginning two days earlier, a proposal that Moscow did not accept.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed Ukrainian forces violated the ceasefire repeatedly during the night and early Friday morning. According to the ministry, Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed 264 Ukrainian drones across several regions. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the Russian capital was among the areas targeted, while officials also reported drone attacks in the Perm region near the Ural Mountains.
Russian authorities further accused Ukraine of launching artillery and drone attacks against Russian military positions and civilian infrastructure in the border regions of Belgorod and Kursk. The ministry stated that Ukrainian forces continued military operations despite the announced pause in fighting.
Moscow has also issued strong warnings ahead of Saturday’s Victory Day military parade in Red Square. Russian officials said any Ukrainian attempt to disrupt the event would trigger a major missile strike on Kyiv. Reports indicated that Russia advised foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital if attacks on the parade were attempted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected Russia’s claims and accused Moscow of continuing attacks throughout the night. He said Russian troops showed no genuine effort to observe the ceasefire and continued shelling Ukrainian positions along the front lines.
Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine would continue defending its territory and citizens while responding proportionally to Russian attacks. The Ukrainian leader argued that Moscow’s actions demonstrated that the ceasefire announcement was merely symbolic rather than a serious attempt at peace.
The conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, remains Europe’s deadliest war since World War Two. Both sides continue to rely heavily on drones, missile strikes, and artillery in a grinding war of attrition that has caused massive destruction and thousands of casualties.
Victory Day holds deep historical significance in Russia and across former Soviet territories. The Soviet Union lost an estimated 27 million people during World War Two, including millions from Ukraine, before Soviet forces captured Berlin in May 1945.
