08:01 09-05-2026

Sobolev Clarifies Russia’s Kiev Strike Warning

Viktor Sobolev said Russia’s warning of a massive strike on Kiev applies only if Ukraine attacks Moscow to disrupt Victory Day.

State Duma Defense Committee member and Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev told NSN that Russia promised to launch a massive strike on Kiev only in the event of an attempt to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations by striking Moscow.

Earlier, the Russian Transport Ministry reported that an AFU strike had paralyzed air traffic in southern Russia. Ukrainian drones hit the administrative building of the Aeronavigatsiya Yuga Rossii branch in Rostov-on-Don. After that, the operation of 13 airports was temporarily suspended: Astrakhan, Volgograd, Vladikavkaz, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Grozny, Makhachkala, Magas, Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Sochi, Stavropol and Elista.

Sobolev called the incident a principled violation of the ceasefire by Kiev. According to him, Ukraine is not honoring the ceasefire agreements, is actively launching aircraft-type drones and is trying to create chaos so that people suffer. He said the chaos at airports shows what can be expected from Kiev and stated that one cannot negotiate with the Ukrainian side because, in his assessment, negotiations are not held with terrorists.

At the same time, Sobolev stressed that Russia’s promised massive strike on Kiev applies to a specific condition. According to him, Moscow warned of a strike on central Kiev in the event of a massive attack on Moscow on May 9, if Kiev decides to carry it out in order to disrupt the Victory Day celebrations.

The lieutenant general explained that the Russian president had set a clear task: a harsh response is envisaged specifically to an attack on Moscow during the holiday period. According to Sobolev, ceasefire violations do not fall under that condition.

Since midnight on May 8, all groups of the Russian Armed Forces have completely stopped combat operations and remained at their previously held lines. The ceasefire is supposed to remain in effect until May 10. However, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian army violated the ceasefire in the special military operation zone 1,365 times.