On May 7 local time, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced that, pursuant to an order from President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Armed Forces would observe a new ceasefire in the zone of the special military operation to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The ceasefire commenced at midnight on May 8 and is scheduled to last until prior to May 10. During this interval, Moscow pledged a complete halt to hostilities, including a suspension of missile forces, artillery, and sea-based and air-based long-range precision weapons. Furthermore, Russia stated it would refrain from launching drone attacks against Ukrainian military positions, rear-area infrastructure, and military-industrial complexes.

Notably, compared to the initial plan announced on May 4 covering May 8 to 9, the latest announcement extends the deadline to before May 10, expanding the actual ceasefire duration from approximately 48 hours to nearly 72 hours. This adjustment follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's preemptive declaration of a unilateral ceasefire. On the evening of May 4, via social media, Zelensky stated that despite not receiving a formal appeal from Moscow, Kyiv had decided to implement a unilateral silence starting from midnight on May 6. He emphasized that the value of human life supersedes any anniversary commemorations and urged Russian leadership to take genuine steps to end the war.

Concurrent with the release of ceasefire specifics, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a stern warning. The announcement explicitly stated that should the Ukrainian Armed Forces violate the ceasefire agreement within the special military operation zone, or attempt to attack civilian settlements and targets within Russian territory, the Russian Armed Forces would respond in kind. The statement specifically noted that should Kyiv attempt to disrupt Moscow's Victory Day celebrations, Russian forces would launch large-scale missile strikes on central Kyiv, advising civilians and staff of foreign diplomatic missions in Kyiv to evacuate promptly. A spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently urged Ukraine to take previous ceasefire statements seriously.

Although both parties have adopted a posture of ceasefire, and while UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the move and called for a comprehensive and lasting truce, the frontline situation has not fully stabilized. Reports indicate that between the night of May 5 and the early hours of May 6, following Zelensky's announcement, air defense systems on the Crimean Peninsula and in the Black Sea region intercepted multiple drones, resulting in casualties. Attacks were also reported in the Zaporizhzhia region and elsewhere. Russian officials stated there is information suggesting Zelensky failed to effectively order his troops to cease fire, alleging that Kyiv has repeatedly violated its own declared ceasefire arrangements. Analysts suggest that Ukraine chose to initiate its ceasefire two days ahead of Russia's original schedule to seize the narrative advantage; should Moscow fail to respond in kind, the allocation of responsibility is expected to become a focal point of future geopolitical maneuvering.