Moscow, May 4, 2026 Russia Announces Ceasefire for May 8 and 9
Russia has announced a unilateral ceasefire for May 8 and 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union's victory over Germany in World War II.
Background of the Ceasefire
The decision for the ceasefire was announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense and stems from an order by President Vladimir Putin. May 9 is a national holiday in Russia, celebrated as "Victory Day," marking the end of the Great Patriotic War in 1945. This year marks the 81st anniversary of the victory.
The traditional military parade on Red Square in Moscow will take place this year without the display of tanks and missiles for the first time since 2007. This may be due to the economic strains caused by the war and high military losses. A brief ceasefire had already been observed in April for Orthodox Easter.
Threats and Reactions
The Russian Ministry of Defense warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, massive retaliatory strikes would follow. In an official statement, it said: *"Should the Kyiv regime attempt to carry out its criminal plans to disrupt the celebrations of the 81st anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the Russian armed forces will launch a massive retaliatory missile strike on the center of Kyiv."*