diff --git a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating.go b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating.go
index b7a4ba143a..7ca3067f28 100644
--- a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating.go
+++ b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating.go
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ func (h *MigratingHandler) syncMigrating(ctx context.Context, s state.VirtualMac
 			cb.Message(fmt.Sprintf("Migration is pending: %s.", completed.Message))
 
 		case vmopcondition.ReasonMigrationPrepareTarget.String():
-			cb.Message("Migration is awaiting target preparation.")
+			cb.Message("Migration is in progress: target pod is being scheduled and prepared.")
 
 		case vmopcondition.ReasonMigrationTargetReady.String():
-			cb.Message("Migration is awaiting execution.")
+			cb.Message("Migration is in progress: source and target are being synchronized.")
 
 		case vmopcondition.ReasonWaitingForVirtualMachineToBeReadyToMigrate.String():
 			// 3.1 Check if virtual disks can be migrated or ready to migrate
diff --git a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating_test.go b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating_test.go
index e267cf51be..ecf10128e0 100644
--- a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating_test.go
+++ b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vm/internal/migrating_test.go
@@ -180,7 +180,26 @@ var _ = Describe("MigratingHandler", func() {
 			Expect(cond.Message).To(Equal("Migration is awaiting start."))
 		})
 
-		It("Should set condition when vmop is in progress with target ready reason", func() {
+		It("Should set active progress message when vmop is in progress with target preparing reason", func() {
+			vm := newVM()
+			kvvmi := newKVVMI(nil)
+			vmop := newVMOP(v1alpha2.VMOPPhaseInProgress, vmopcondition.ReasonMigrationPrepareTarget.String(), true)
+			fakeClient, resource, vmState = setupEnvironment(vm, kvvmi, vmop)
+
+			reconcile()
+
+			newVM := &v1alpha2.VirtualMachine{}
+			err := fakeClient.Get(ctx, client.ObjectKeyFromObject(vm), newVM)
+			Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+
+			cond, exists := conditions.GetCondition(vmcondition.TypeMigrating, newVM.Status.Conditions)
+			Expect(exists).To(BeTrue())
+			Expect(cond.Status).To(Equal(metav1.ConditionFalse))
+			Expect(cond.Reason).To(Equal(vmcondition.ReasonMigratingPending.String()))
+			Expect(cond.Message).To(Equal("Migration is in progress: target pod is being scheduled and prepared."))
+		})
+
+		It("Should set active progress message when vmop is in progress with target ready reason", func() {
 			vm := newVM()
 			kvvmi := newKVVMI(nil)
 			vmop := newVMOP(v1alpha2.VMOPPhaseInProgress, vmopcondition.ReasonMigrationTargetReady.String(), true)
@@ -196,7 +215,7 @@ var _ = Describe("MigratingHandler", func() {
 			Expect(exists).To(BeTrue())
 			Expect(cond.Status).To(Equal(metav1.ConditionFalse))
 			Expect(cond.Reason).To(Equal(vmcondition.ReasonMigratingPending.String()))
-			Expect(cond.Message).To(Equal("Migration is awaiting execution."))
+			Expect(cond.Message).To(Equal("Migration is in progress: source and target are being synchronized."))
 		})
 
 		It("Should set condition when vmop is in progress with running reason", func() {
diff --git a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vmop/migration/internal/handler/lifecycle_test.go b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vmop/migration/internal/handler/lifecycle_test.go
index 94d139f9a9..31661d41d0 100644
--- a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vmop/migration/internal/handler/lifecycle_test.go
+++ b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/controller/vmop/migration/internal/handler/lifecycle_test.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	vmbuilder "github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/builder/vm"
 	vmopbuilder "github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/builder/vmop"
 	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/common/testutil"
+	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/controller/conditions"
 	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/controller/reconciler"
 	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/controller/vmop/migration/internal/service"
 	genericservice "github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/controller/vmop/service"
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization-controller/pkg/featuregates"
 	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization/api/core/v1alpha2"
 	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization/api/core/v1alpha2/vmcondition"
+	"github.com/deckhouse/virtualization/api/core/v1alpha2/vmopcondition"
 )
 
 var _ = Describe("LifecycleHandler", func() {
@@ -186,6 +188,41 @@ var _ = Describe("LifecycleHandler", func() {
 		),
 	)
 
+	It("should keep migration scheduling in progress after migration starts", func() {
+		vm := newVM(v1alpha2.PreferSafeMigrationPolicy)
+		vm.Status.Conditions = []metav1.Condition{{
+			Type:   string(vmcondition.TypeMigrating),
+			Reason: string(vmcondition.ReasonReadyToMigrate),
+		}}
+		vmop := newVMOPMigrate()
+		vmop.Status.Phase = v1alpha2.VMOPPhaseInProgress
+
+		mig := &virtv1.VirtualMachineInstanceMigration{}
+		mig.Namespace = namespace
+		mig.Name = fmt.Sprintf("vmop-%s", vmop.Name)
+		mig.Status.Phase = virtv1.MigrationScheduling
+		mig.OwnerReferences = []metav1.OwnerReference{{
+			Kind:       "VirtualMachineOperation",
+			Name:       vmop.Name,
+			UID:        vmop.UID,
+			Controller: ptr.To(true),
+		}}
+		mig.Spec.VMIName = name
+
+		fakeClient, srv = setupEnvironment(vmop, vm, mig)
+		migrationService := service.NewMigrationService(fakeClient, featuregates.Default())
+		base := genericservice.NewBaseVMOPService(fakeClient, recorderMock)
+
+		h := NewLifecycleHandler(fakeClient, migrationService, base, recorderMock)
+		_, err := h.Handle(ctx, srv.Changed())
+		Expect(err).NotTo(HaveOccurred())
+
+		Expect(srv.Changed().Status.Phase).To(Equal(v1alpha2.VMOPPhaseInProgress))
+		completed, found := conditions.GetCondition(vmopcondition.TypeCompleted, srv.Changed().Status.Conditions)
+		Expect(found).To(BeTrue())
+		Expect(completed.Reason).To(Equal(vmopcondition.ReasonMigrationPrepareTarget.String()))
+	})
+
 	DescribeTable("TargetMigration", func(vmPolicy v1alpha2.LiveMigrationPolicy, nodeSelector map[string]string, targetMigrationEnabled bool) {
 		vm := newVM(vmPolicy)
 		vm.Status.Conditions = []metav1.Condition{