Moscow Threatens Kyiv’s ‘Decision-Making Centers’ as Victory Day Fears Mount

Russia’s warning comes as Moscow scales back its May 9 parade and tightens security amid fears of Ukrainian drone strikes. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on after the Victory Day parade in central Moscow on May 9, 2024. (Photo by Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Russia has warned foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations that it could launch “massive retaliatory strikes” on Kyiv, including against “decision-making centers,” if Ukraine disrupts Victory Day events in Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow had sent an official note to foreign missions urging them to ensure the “timely evacuation” of diplomatic staff and citizens from the Ukrainian capital. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The warning comes ahead of Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, which commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. The Kremlin earlier declared a unilateral ceasefire for May 8-9 to coincide with the commemorations. President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the proposal as a cynical attempt to protect Moscow’s parade rather than a genuine move toward peace. Zelensky proposed Ukraine’s own ceasefire beginning May 6, but said Russia ignored it and continued strikes across multiple Ukrainian regions. “Today, virtually all day long, virtually every hour, we have been receiving reports of strikes from various regions,” Zelensky said in his evening address. He said Ukraine would “respond in kind” to Russia’s violations and decide its next steps accordingly. Moscow has also moved to scale back this year’s Victory Day parade, with military hardware expected to be absent from the procession for the first time in almost two decades due to what Russian officials called the “operational situation.” Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Russian‑Occupied Kherson Region Kyiv says thousands remain trapped in occupied Kherson settlements with limited access to food, medicine, and evacuation routes. The aggressive rhetoric reflects Moscow’s growing security dilemma ahead of the parade: the Kremlin is attempting to project strength while facing the risk that a successful Ukrainian drone strike could undermine that image in real time. Russian authorities have also introduced intermittent mobile internet shutdowns in Moscow until Saturday. While officially linked to security concerns, the blackouts could also help limit drone navigation and prevent live-streamed unrest or dissent during the event. Russia’s threats against Kyiv’s “decision-making centers” appear to be a form of deterrence aimed at protecting the symbolic integrity of the May 9 parade. The warnings reflect Moscow’s security dilemma: the Kremlin needs to project military strength, but the expected absence of heavy military hardware at this year’s parade highlights its concern over Ukrainian long-range strike capabilities. By threatening government targets in Kyiv and urging foreign diplomats to evacuate, Moscow appears to be trying to use international pressure as a buffer against a possible embarrassment on national television. The conditional nature of the threat - strikes only if the parade is disrupted - also underscores Russia’s difficulty in reliably defending its own airspace over Moscow. The rhetoric appears aimed at a domestic audience, projecting control even as Russia’s military prestige continues to erode.. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.