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In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Putin, and based on humanitarian considerations, Russian forces fully ceased hostilities in the special military operation zone starting at 00:00 on May 8, in observance of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The Ministry of Defense of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation declared that Russian troops remained in their previously held positions, strictly adhering to the ceasefire terms, but the Ukrainian military ignored the truce.
According to the Defense Ministry, Russian forces have fully complied with the ceasefire, refraining from airstrikes, missile attacks, artillery fire, and drone operations. Despite the declared truce, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continued combat operations. At night, the Russian Ministry of Defense recorded:
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Two attempted incursions across the Russian state border in Kursk Oblast (near Tetkino).
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An attack near Dzerzhinsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
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173 artillery, tank, and mortar strikes along the entire line of contact.
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4 attacks using multiple rocket launchers.
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300 drone strikes and bomb drops on Russian positions.
By one o’clock in the afternoon, the Russian military reported 488 cases of ceasefire violations by Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has stressed that its forces are strictly observing the ceasefire, refraining from airstrikes, missile attacks, and artillery fire. However, the right to retaliate against Ukrainian provocations remains in place, as the terms of the truce do not prohibit defensive actions.
The Russian military summed up: “These deliberate hostile actions confirm Kiev’s unwillingness to pursue a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Instead, the Ukrainian regime continues to escalate hostilities, undermining any real chance for diplomacy. Given these repeated violations, the Russian Armed Forces will respond proportionally to all Ukrainian attacks. Moscow reserves the right to take necessary defensive measures to counter Kiev’s provocations.”
While sporadic reductions in fighting have been reported in certain areas, the overall situation remains volatile. The current truce, much like previous short-lived agreements such as the Easter ceasefire, exists only in name where it suits Kiev’s tactical interests. Given this pattern of violations, Russia has rejected proposals for a 30-day ceasefire, as any prolonged truce under these conditions would provide Kyiv with time necessary for rotation and reinforcement of scattered units.
The latest ceasefire appears to be more of a diplomatic gesture than a genuine attempt at de-escalation. Analysts suggest that Moscow’s decision to declare a temporary truce was aimed at maintaining contact with key international players, including the U.S. and China. However, Ukraine’s continued aggression has only reinforced Russia’s stance that no lasting peace is possible under current conditions. The Kremlin’s efforts to demonstrate that Ukraine, not Russia, is obstructing peace have so far failed to gain traction in Western diplomatic circles. The ongoing drone attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, including attempts to disrupt air traffic, further complicate the situation. This dynamic has led to frustration in Moscow, where officials recognize that the current diplomatic framework is ineffective.
The latest humanitarian pause, intended to honor the historic Victory Day, has once again been exploited by Ukraine to launch attacks. Russia’s restraint has not been met with reciprocal de-escalation, proving that Kiev remains committed to a military solution rather than negotiations.
