Russia Announces May 8-9 Ceasefire for WWII Victory but Threatens Kyiv Strike; Ukraine Starts Open-Ended Truce

Russia, set to hold World War Two victory celebrations this weekend, announced a ceasefire on May 8 and 9. It threatened a massive missile strike on central Kyiv if Ukraine violated the truce.

Kyiv said it would observe an open-ended ceasefire from midnight on May 6. Ukraine would act symmetrically from that point.

Five people died and dozens suffered injuries in missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight as the sides announced the moves.

"It's utter cynicism to ask for silence to hold propaganda celebrations and to launch such missile-drone attacks every day beforehand," Zelensky said.

The two ceasefires appear unilateral, with no agreement on terms, length or monitoring.

"We have made our proposal," Zelensky said, urging Russia to lay down arms and move to real diplomacy.

Ukraine's open-ended truce aims to show willingness for an immediate and lasting halt, pinning any violations on Russia.

"We believe that human life is of incomparably greater value than the 'celebration' of any anniversary," he wrote on Telegram.

Before its ceasefire, Ukraine struck an industrial area in Kirishi in Leningrad region and a factory producing military components in Cheboksary in Chuvash Republic.

Zelensky said domestically made Flamingo cruise missiles hit the Cheboksary factory, 1,500 km (930 miles) from the front line. An unverified video showed a fast-moving object and large explosion.

Russia's defence ministry confirmed downing six Ukrainian Flamingos and 601 drones.

On Tuesday morning, Moscow's three airports closed temporarily. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said four drones were downed near the capital.

The May 9 celebrations mark the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. They have grown in scale since Vladimir Putin took power in the early 2000s.

The Kremlin said this year's Red Square military parade would scale back due to the terrorist threat from Ukraine. No heavy military hardware would appear.

Muscovites received warnings of mobile internet disruptions or cutoffs for several days before May 9.

Zelensky said Russia's inability to hold a Moscow parade without Ukraine's ceasefire goodwill meant its leaders should take steps to end the war.