Overview
- Russia’s defense ministry told people in Kyiv and foreign missions to leave the city, warning of retaliatory attacks if Ukraine tries to disrupt the Red Square parade.
- Moscow announced a two-day pause for May 8–9 tied to Victory Day yet threatened a massive ballistic missile strike on central Kyiv if the event is targeted.
- Ukraine said its own indefinite truce proposal was broken by heavy Russian fire, citing 1,820 hostile actions in the first 10 hours and reporting 27 civilians killed and more than 120 injured by 108 drones and three missiles.
- Russia said its air defenses downed or diverted 53 Ukrainian drones over Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, the Moscow region, and Crimea, where local authorities reported five deaths.
- With parade security in doubt, Russia has scaled back the event and Ukraine urged foreign leaders to stay away, signaling a contest of pressure that could disrupt daily life and embassy staffing in Kyiv.