May 8, 2026 — Russia announced a two-day unilateral ceasefire ahead of its Victory Day celebrations, but exchanges of strikes and drone attacks continued across the front and inside both countries, as Kyiv rejected Moscow’s pause and accused it of using the truce for political cover.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the announcement “not even a token attempt” at stopping the fighting and said Kyiv would continue to respond to attacks. Ukrainian authorities say Moscow ignored a Ukrainian counter-proposal for a temporary halt earlier in the week and then launched dozens of strikes overnight, including more than 100 combat drones and multiple missiles. At least 27 people were reported killed in Russian strikes across eastern Ukraine during one recent wave of attacks; one strike in Poltava drew particular condemnation after a second missile struck the scene while rescuers were assisting victims.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces were responding “symmetrically” to Ukrainian actions and accused Kyiv of carrying out drone and artillery strikes on the front. Moscow has also warned it would retaliate heavily against any attempt to disrupt its Victory Day parade in Moscow. As a result of security concerns, more than a dozen airports in southern Russia were closed.
Moscow is nonetheless holding a more subdued Victory Day parade than in previous years. Organisers said military hardware will not be displayed on Red Square and cadets from some top academies will not take part; several regional celebrations have been cancelled. The Kremlin said only a small number of foreign leaders will attend. Officials cited a heightened “terrorist threat” as the reason for excluding tanks and other heavy equipment from the main ceremony.
The continuing violence is taking a heavy toll on civilians and critical services. The World Health Organization reported more than 3,000 attacks on Ukraine’s health system since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The WHO said roughly 80% of those incidents hit hospitals, clinics and other health facilities, with the remaining 20% affecting ambulances and medical vehicles. Hans Kluge, WHO Europe director, described every recorded attack as a violation of international humanitarian law and warned they cannot become normalized. The UN estimates nearly 13 million people in Ukraine now require humanitarian assistance.
Separately, Ukrainian authorities said a crashed drone sparked a large forest fire in the Chernobyl exclusion zone near the shuttered nuclear plant. Local services reported radiation levels remained within normal limits as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russia of targeting nuclear sites during the war; the exclusion zone itself remains largely depopulated since the 1986 disaster.
On the diplomatic front, US engagement appears to be resuming. Marco Rubio said Washington is prepared to help mediate between the parties if talks can be productive, while Ukrainian officials said they expect envoys from the United States to visit Kyiv in coming weeks to try to revive negotiations. Ukrainian leaders have expressed cautious hope that renewed diplomacy might “activate” a path toward talks, though previous US-led rounds have failed to produce a breakthrough.
As the Victory Day commemorations proceed under tight security, both sides show little sign of a sustained lull. Kyiv insists any pause must be real and mutual; Moscow has framed its announcement as a temporary measure tied to the holiday. For now, fighting, strikes on civilian infrastructure and concerns about further escalation continue to shape the humanitarian and security picture in the region.