Ukraine and Russia have announced separate ceasefire timelines ahead of Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, with Kyiv declaring it will halt hostilities earlier than the truce window outlined by the Kremlin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would begin its ceasefire from midnight on May 5–6, stating that no formal request had been made by Moscow on how the cessation of hostilities was expected to work.
“As of today, there has been no official appeal to Ukraine regarding the modality of a cessation of hostilities that is being claimed on Russian social media,” Zelenskyy said on X.
Announcing Kyiv’s position, he added, “In this regard, we are announcing a ceasefire regime starting at 00:00 (2100 GMT) on the night of May 5–6. In the time left until that moment, it is realistic to ensure that silence takes effect.”
Ukraine said it would proceed with the truce from that point, with Zelenskyy stressing humanitarian priorities over symbolic wartime commemorations.
“We believe that human life is far more valuable than any anniversary 'celebration',” he said.
The Ukrainian president also criticised Russia’s focus on securing its Victory Day parade, saying, “It is time for Russian leaders to take real steps to end their war, especially since Russia's Defense Ministry believes it cannot hold a parade in Moscow without Ukraine's goodwill.”
Russia, meanwhile, said its own ceasefire would run from May 8 to 9, following an order issued by President Vladimir Putin to coincide with the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II, referred to in Russia as the Great Patriotic War.
In its statement, Moscow said, “a ceasefire is declared on 8-9 May 2026 in honour of the celebration of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War.”
“We expect the Ukrainian side to follow this example,” it added.
Russia’s defence ministry also issued a warning over any disruption to its commemorations, stating, “Should the Kiev regime attempt to carry out its criminal plans aimed at disrupting the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will launch a retaliatory, massive missile strike on the centre of Kiev.”
Victory Day, marked annually on May 9, commemorates the Soviet Union’s role in the defeat of Nazi Germany and honours the millions killed during the Second World War.
