RUSSIA and Ukraine exchanged attacks early this morning, hours before a planned three-day ceasefire, with a mother and her son among the victims in Kiev.

The assault on the Ukrainian capital came as Russia faced disruption from sustained Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow for the third consecutive day, grounding flights ahead of the country’s Victory Day military parade in the Red Square this Friday.

According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Russian air defences intercepted nine long-range Ukrainian drones near the capital. 

Ukraine has previously launched drones into Russian territory, but the repeated attacks appear aimed at undermining preparations for the 80th anniversary celebration of the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany, celebrated on May 9 rather than May 8 in Russia because Germany offered its surrender to Moscow some hours later than to the Western Allies.

The event will feature a military parade in Red Square, with foreign representatives, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expected to attend.

Russian airline Aeroflot cancelled over 100 flights to and from Moscow today, while more than 140 were delayed as drones continued to cause disruptions at the city’s airports.

Moscow had announced a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire, set to begin at 10pm local time last night, to coincide with the celebrations. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the move as a ”theatrical play,” calling instead for increased international pressure on Russia following its fresh missile strikes. 

Before dawn today, Russia launched a barrage of 142 drones and four ballistic missiles at Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said. 

In the attack on Kiev, a residential building was struck. Eight others, including four children, were injured, according to the Kiev City Military Administration.

Security is expected to be heightened for the Victory Day parade in Moscow amid concerns about further attacks.