After Russia unilaterally announced a ceasefire for 8–9 May, Ukraine declared its own silence regime starting at 00:00 on the night of May 5–6. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the proposal.
Earlier, Moscow threatened Ukraine with “retaliatory strikes” if Ukrainian drones appeared over the 9 May parade in Moscow. At the same time, Russia continues daily attacks on civilian areas and frontline positions, UNIAN reported.
“In the event of provocations by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the Victory Day parade on 9 May, we will carry out retaliatory strikes,” said Andrey Kolesnik, a member of the State Duma Defense Committee.
The parade remains one of the Kremlin’s key propaganda events, long used to influence domestic audiences and justify the war against Ukraine.
Ukraine responds by introducing its own ceasefire
Shortly after Russia’s statements, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would implement its own silence regime starting the night of 5–6 May.
The president noted that Ukraine would act “symmetrically” during this period. He also commented on Russia’s unilateral ceasefire, stating that Ukraine had received no official communication regarding the terms or modalities of any cessation of hostilities, beyond claims circulating on Russian social media.
“We believe that human life is incomparably more valuable than the ‘celebration’ of any anniversary. Therefore, we announce a silence regime starting from 00:00 on the night of 5–6 May,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
According to him, there is still time before the ceasefire begins to realistically ensure a halt to hostilities.
“We will act symmetrically from the specified moment. It is time for the Russian leadership to take real steps to end their war, if the Russian Ministry of Defense believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine’s goodwill,” he concluded.
At the end of April, it became known that the 9 May parade in Moscow would take place without heavy military equipment. It will feature Russian soldiers, aircraft from aerobatic teams, and Su-25 jets.
