Russia's Defense Ministry has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for May 8 and 9, 2026, in observance of Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The announcement, made in accordance with a decision by Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin, calls on Ukraine to reciprocate the gesture. "In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire is declared on May 8–9, 2026, in honour of the celebration of the Soviet people’s victory in the Great Patriotic War," the ministry stated. "We expect that the Ukrainian side will follow this example."

However, the statement included a stern warning. It cautioned that any Ukrainian attempts to disrupt Moscow's Victory Day celebrations would prompt a massive retaliatory missile strike on the center of Kyiv. "The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will deliver a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the centre of Kyiv," it said, noting that Russia had previously refrained from such actions for humanitarian reasons. Civilians in Kyiv and staff at foreign diplomatic missions were urged to evacuate the city promptly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by announcing Ukraine's own ceasefire, effective from 00:00 on the night of May 5-6. Zelenskyy emphasized prioritizing human life over anniversaries and called for reciprocal action from Russia. "We believe that human life is an incomparably greater value than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary," he said. "It is time for the Russian leadership to take real steps to end their war."

Zelenskyy has described Russia's proposals as cynical, especially amid recent Russian attacks, and proposed a longer-term truce instead. Ukraine's move starts earlier than Russia's and lacks a specified end date, framing it as an opportunity for broader de-escalation.

This comes amid the ongoing conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Short-term ceasefires have occurred previously, such as around Orthodox Easter and prior Victory Days, but sustained peace talks remain stalled. Both sides continue military operations, with recent exchanges of airstrikes reported ahead of the holiday.

The announcements coincide with heightened security in Moscow for Victory Day parades and events. Russia views the holiday as a sacred commemoration of the 27 million Soviet lives lost in the war, often drawing parallels to its current operations in Ukraine.