Ask Onix
Conflicting ceasefire announcements amid ongoing attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of hypocrisy after Moscow announced a temporary ceasefire for Victory Day celebrations while continuing deadly strikes across Ukraine. The two nations unveiled separate, unilateral truces with no agreed terms, raising doubts over their implementation.
Russia's conditional truce and threats
Moscow declared it would halt hostilities on 8 and 9 May, coinciding with its World War II Victory Day commemorations. However, the Kremlin warned of a "massive missile strike" on central Kyiv if Ukraine violated the pause. Russia has framed the truce as a gesture tied to its national holiday, though Zelensky dismissed the move as propaganda.
"It's utter cynicism to ask for silence to hold propaganda celebrations and to launch such missile-drone attacks every day beforehand," Zelensky stated.
Ukraine's open-ended ceasefire proposal
Kyiv responded by announcing its own indefinite ceasefire starting at midnight on 6 May, vowing to respond "symmetrically" to any violations. Zelensky urged Russia to abandon its military campaign and engage in "real diplomacy," emphasizing that human lives outweigh symbolic anniversaries.
"We believe that human life is of incomparably greater value than the 'celebration' of any anniversary," he wrote on Telegram.
Strikes continue despite truce declarations
Overnight missile and drone attacks killed five people and injured dozens across Ukraine, underscoring the fragility of the announced pauses. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched retaliatory strikes on Russian soil, targeting an industrial zone in Kirishi and a military component factory in Cheboksary, approximately 1,500 km from the front lines.
Zelensky confirmed the use of domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles in the Cheboksary strike, though unverified footage showed a large explosion. Russia claimed to have intercepted six Flamingos and 601 drones.
Moscow on high alert ahead of Victory Day
Russia's preparations for 9 May have been marred by security concerns. Moscow's airports were temporarily closed on Tuesday after drones were downed near the capital. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported four drones intercepted, while the Kremlin scaled back its traditional Red Square parade, citing a "terrorist threat" from Ukraine.
Mobile internet access in Moscow has also been disrupted or restricted in the days leading up to the celebrations, further signaling heightened tensions.
Zelensky challenges Russia's motives
Zelensky suggested Russia's reliance on Ukraine's ceasefire to hold its parade exposed the Kremlin's vulnerability. "The fact that Russia cannot hold a parade in Moscow without the goodwill of Ukraine to observe a ceasefire means it is time for Russian leaders to take steps to end their war," he said.
Ukraine has intensified long-range drone strikes in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure and oil refineries deep inside Russia. These attacks have disrupted Russian oil exports and stretched Moscow's air defenses. Meanwhile, Russian strikes continue to devastate Ukrainian cities, with thousands of civilian casualties since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
