The military institution noted this Friday in a statement published on its official Telegram channel that Moscow hopes Kiev to follow its example, but at the same time, the Russian Armed Forces will take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the holiday celebrations.

The Ministry also affirmed that it had taken note of the statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who, during his stay in Yerevan for the European Union summit, suggested that Kiev might launch drones during the military parade in the Russian capital.

It warned that if Ukraine attempts to disrupt the celebration of the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory, the Russian Army will launch a massive retaliatory missile strike on Kiev.

It underscored that Russia, despite its capabilities, had previously refrained from such actions “for humanitarian reasons.”

It also warned the civilian population of the Ukrainian capital and employees of foreign diplomatic missions of the need to leave the city in time.

Zelensky announced a unilateral ceasefire by Kiev starting on May 6 at midnight.

However, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced Ukraine for violating the ceasefire, or truce, that she herself had announced.

Every May 9, Russia and most of the countries that were part of the USSR celebrate the victory over Hitler’s Germany in the Great Patriotic War, which spanned from June 22, 1941, with the start of the German invasion of the USSR, to May 9, 1945, when the Nazi surrender took place.

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