Moscow Warns of Retaliatory Strikes on Kyiv If Victory Day Celebrations Disrupted

Amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has issued a sharp warning to foreign embassies to evacuate staff from Kyiv, threatening retaliatory strikes against decision-making centers in the Ukrainian capital if Russia’s May 9th Victory Day celebrations are disrupted.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova lashed out at European governments backing Ukraine, accusing them of ignoring what Moscow called escalating terrorist activity by Kyiv ahead of the commemorations.

“In case the European Union countries think they can silence the public threats that have been made, as the saying goes, if they think they can sweep Zelenskyy’s aggressive statements under the rug, they are gravely mistaken,” Zakharova said. “By arming Ukraine, they become accomplices in the criminal plans of the Kyiv regime.”

The warnings follow remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, when he said the Kremlin now fears Ukrainian drones could buzz over Red Square, where the annual World War II victory parade unfolds. This year, however, Moscow has scaled down the celebrations, citing growing security concerns.

Meanwhile, Ukraine accuses Russia of ignoring Kyiv’s unilateral ceasefire as Moscow continues to intensify attacks. In the northeastern city of Sumy, two people were killed after Russian drones struck a kindergarten building.

“Truce. There will be no truce. Not in our lifetime and not in yours,” a speaker said in the transcript.

In Kherson, strikes damaged civilian homes as emergency crews struggled to respond. The United Nations says at least 30 civilians were killed and around 170 injured in Russian attacks between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ukraine says Russia launched more than 100 drones and several missiles overnight. President Zelenskyy warned they would respond in kind to continued Russian strikes, taking a jab at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Ukraine will act in kind depending on the situation overnight and tomorrow. We will also determine our fully justified responses,” Zelenskyy said. “Russia has received from us a clear proposal on silence of the guns and diplomacy and knows how to contact Ukraine or our partners in order to coordinate the details. If the one person in Moscow who cannot live without war cares only about one parade and nothing else, that’s a different story.”