Russia declares Ukraine ceasefire from May 8 to May 10 for Victory Day
Synopsis
Russia has declared a 72-hour ceasefire in its war with Ukraine timed to Victory Day — the politically charged commemoration of Soviet triumph in World War II. The pause comes amid escalating threats: Kyiv warned of drone strikes on Moscow's Red Square parade, and Moscow threatened a massive missile strike on central Kyiv in response.
Key Takeaways
Russia declared a ceasefire from midnight 8 May to 10 May 2025 , timed to the 81st Victory Day anniversary.
The order was issued by President Vladimir Putin as Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a possible Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow's Red Square parade on 9 May .
Russian officials threatened a massive missile strike on central Kyiv in response to Zelensky's warnings.
Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador over Zelensky's remarks made at the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan .
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Western nations of systematically distorting Soviet wartime history.
The Russian Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday, 7 May 2025, that Russia would observe a ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine from midnight on 8 May through 10 May, coinciding with celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II, according to local media reports.
The Official Declaration
The ceasefire order was issued by President Vladimir Putin in his capacity as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces. The Russian Ministry of Defence stated, as reported by state-owned news agency TASS:
Point of View
Russia's summoning of the Armenian ambassador over Zelensky's Yerevan remarks signals that Moscow is widening the diplomatic pressure beyond the immediate battlefield. The ceasefire's credibility will be measured not by the announcement but by what happens on the ground between 8 and 10 May.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Russia declared a ceasefire from May 8 to May 10?
Russia declared the ceasefire to mark the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in World War II, commonly celebrated as Victory Day on 9 May. President Vladimir Putin issued the order in his role as Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces.
What did Ukrainian President Zelensky say about Russia's Victory Day parade?
Speaking at the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan on 4 May, Zelensky suggested Russia could not afford to display military equipment at its Victory Day parade and that Russian authorities feared drones might fly over Red Square. Russian officials interpreted these remarks as threatening.
How did Russia respond to Zelensky's drone threat?
Russian diplomats and military officials warned that a massive missile strike would be launched on central Kyiv if Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow parade — something they said they had so far refrained from despite having the capability.
Why did Russia summon the Armenian ambassador?
Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador because Zelensky made his remarks at a summit hosted in Yerevan, Armenia. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin met Armenian Ambassador Gurgen Arsenyan and conveyed that Armenia's provision of a platform for what Russia called 'terrorist threats' was categorically unacceptable.
What did Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova say?
Zakharova warned that EU countries were mistaken if they believed they could ignore Zelensky's statements. She also accused Western nations of systematically destroying Soviet memorial heritage, exhuming the remains of Soviet soldiers, and distorting wartime history.
