Russia, Ukraine announce separate Victory Day ceasefires

• By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Moscow
• May 05, 2026
• 371

Russia and Ukraine have announced separate ceasefires at different times ahead of Victory Day on May 9. Moscow has declared a ceasefire for Friday and Saturday, while Kyiv said it will halt fighting from 12 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the move is to mark the 81st anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. At the same time, it warned that any interference with Victory Day events would trigger a major missile strike on Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country would observe a ceasefire starting Wednesday night but made it clear Ukraine would respond to any Russian aggression. He did not specify how long the truce would last.

This year’s Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow will be notably different, with tanks and heavy weapons excluded due to the threat of drone attacks.

Russia has also advised residents and foreign embassies in Kyiv to leave the city amid rising security concerns. Multiple attempts to broker ceasefires in the conflict have been made previously, but most have failed to hold.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Moscow’s Victory Day parade will proceed without heavy military hardware. Parades in several other cities have been scaled down or canceled due to security risks.

Victory Day remains one of the most significant national events in Russia, closely tied to strength and patriotism, and strongly associated with President Vladimir Putin’s political messaging.