"In accordance with the decision of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces V.V. Putin, a ceasefire is declared for May 8-9, 2026, in honor of the celebration of the Soviet people's victory in the Great Patriotic War," Russia's Defense Ministry announced Monday.
The ministry warned that if Ukraine "attempts to implement its criminal plans" to disrupt celebrations, Russia will launch a retaliatory attack on the center of Kiev, which it has refrained from doing up to now for humanitarian reasons.
"We are warning the civilian population of Kiev and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city promptly" in such an eventuality, the MoD said.