[54574] The Kremlin clarifies: No attack on Kyiv is expected, since the Red Square was not attacked

The Kremlin clarifies: No intention for a retaliatory attack on Kyiv

In the last 24 hours, reports about statements from the Kremlin regarding Russia's strike policy toward the center of Kyiv have been stirring the web. Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to the Russian President, stated that "there will be no massive retaliatory attack on Kyiv," citing a simple reason: Ukraine did not attack Red Square in Moscow during the May 9th celebrations. This statement was widely distributed across many Ukrainian Telegram channels, including Реальна Війна, Львівич, and ЦАПЛІЄНКО_UKRAINE FIGHTS.

The interpretation on Ukrainian networks of this move is twofold. While channels like Батальйон «Монако» skeptically note that Ushakov did not clarify "how long" this promise will last, journalist Юлія Кирієнко assessed that this marks a shift in Kremlin rhetoric, indicating that Moscow has begun to view Ukraine as an "equal adversary."

On the other hand, other sources analyze the initial threat as an attempt at psychological warfare. According to UA Stream, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that the early Russian threats of a "massive attack" were intended from the outset to conceal Russia's weakness and its inability to defend its territory against Ukrainian drones. At the same time, the channel Женьок Вещає… claimed that Russia even reached out to Washington to ensure the military parade could be held safely.

Despite Ushakov's statements, the situation remains tense, with channels such as Київ Головне and Інформатор Київ continuing to monitor developments with caution, emphasizing that this is only a momentary commitment. The fact that Putin himself had to address rumors of an attack in Kyiv testifies to the Kremlin's high sensitivity to the narrative of the May 9th victory.