Russia launches fresh strikes on Ukraine ahead of Victory Day holiday

Air raid sirens have sounded across Ukraine after the latest wave of Russian drone and missile strikes.

Moscow has escalated attacks on the capital Kyiv and other cities ahead of Victory Day on 9 May – when they commemorate the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

Ukraine says it destroyed all 35 Iranian-made drones which Russia launched overnight.

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At least three civilians have been killed and more than 14 wounded in the past 24 hours, according to officials in Ukraine.

It is the fourth time in eight days that Kyiv has been attacked, with falling debris damaging apartment buildings.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko called it the "biggest" kamikaze drone raid so far.

Earlier this month, Ukraine launched a competition for drone developers to land an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) on Red Square in Moscow during the 9 May parade for a cash prize.

The competition was announced by the co-founder of Monobank and developer of the Dovbush drone Volodymyr Yatsenko.

Every year, Russia celebrates Victory Day with a military parade, with Russian leaders traditionally watching the event from the tomb of Vladimir Lenin in Red Square, Moscow.