Russia escalates threats to protect Victory Day parade
Photo: Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry (Getty Images)
The Putin regime has threatened for the second time in a week to strike central Kyiv if a ceasefire for Russia’s Victory Day celebrations is not observed, according to the statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Zakharova said Russia’s Foreign Ministry had sent diplomatic missions and international organizations a note containing warnings.
Moscow demanded that foreign diplomats take "seriously" a statement issued by Russia’s Defense Ministry, which warned of a massive missile strike on the central part of Kyiv if Moscow were attacked during the May 9 ceasefire period.
Russia also urged diplomatic missions and other foreign representatives to "ensure the early evacuation of personnel from the city of Kyiv."
The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that retaliatory strikes could target "decision-making centers."
Zakharova also complained that no one at the European Political Community summit criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he hinted that Ukrainian drones might target the Victory Day parade.
At the same time, she insisted that Russia was not acting "from a position of aggression."
Russia’s ceasefire announcement
Earlier, on May 4, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that President Vladimir Putin had ordered a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine on May 8–9.
The ministry also warned that if Ukraine attacked Moscow during Victory Day celebrations, Russia would launch a large-scale strike on the central districts of Kyiv.
Residents of Kyiv and foreign diplomats were advised to evacuate the city.
