Russia issues chilling warning to Ukraine ahead of Victory Day celebrations

WorldPolitics
5 May 2026 • 2:29 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Russia issues chilling warning to Ukraine ahead of Victory Day celebrations

  • Russia threatened a "massive retaliatory missile strike" on Kyiv if Ukraine attempts to disrupt its World War Two Victory Day celebrations on 9 May.
  • President Vladimir Putin declared a two-day ceasefire for 8-9 May, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that no official proposal had been received and dismissed a one-day ceasefire as "not serious".
  • Earlier, a suspected Ukrainian drone strike damaged the Mosfilm Tower, a luxury residential building in central Moscow, located near key Russian government sites.
  • The UK announced plans to join a £78bn European Union loan scheme for Ukraine and introduce further "stinging sanctions" against Russian companies.
  • Separately, Austria expelled three Russian embassy employees over suspected espionage, and Ukrainian police conducted widespread searches for corruption among draft officials across 16 regions.

IN FULL