Eagle Intelligence Reports
Russia on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine between May 8-9, when Moscow marks its annual World War II Victory Day commemorations, and threatened a “massive missile strike” on Kyiv if Ukraine violated it.
Meanwhile, Ukraine will observe its own truce with Russia starting May 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The exchange between the two sides comes with a lull in US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war, as the United States shifts its focus to conflict in the Middle East.
Russian President Vladimir Putin first proposed the truce last week, during a phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump. Ukraine said last week it would seek details from Washington about the offer.
“In accordance with a decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared from 8-9 May 2026. We hope that the Ukrainian side will follow suit,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a post on state-backed messaging service MAX.
“If the Kyiv 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 center of Kyiv,” it added.
Local officials on Tuesday said five people were killed and dozens more injured in the overnight Russian attacks that mostly targeted energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky on Tuesday slammed Russia’s “utter cynicism” of launching deadly attacks on his country, while also seeking a truce to stage a May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow.
“Russia could cease fire at any moment, and this would stop the war and our responses. Peace is needed, and real steps are needed to achieve it. Ukraine will act in kind,” he said on X.
He added, “There has been no official appeal to Ukraine regarding the modality of a cessation of hostilities that is being claimed on Russian social media… In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime starting at 00:00 on the night of May 5–6.”
On the ground, Russian strikes killed at least nine people across Ukraine on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials, while a Ukrainian drone crashed into a luxury apartment building in Moscow overnight. (AFP)