Hours before possible ceasefire begins, Russia and Ukraine launch attacks with two killed in Kyiv

Summary

A Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills a mother and son, says Ukraine's President Zelensky
The attacks happened hours before a three-day ceasefire, announced by Russia, is due to begin
Zelensky says "only significantly intensified pressure on Russia and stronger sanctions can pave the way to diplomacy"
In total, Russia launched four ballistic missiles and 142 drones overnight, Zelensky says
Ukraine also attacked Russia with drones, with Moscow's airports having to close for the second successive night - they have since reopened
The ceasefire is due to begin at 22:00 BST - Putin called it to mark Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany

Live Reporting

Edited by Owen Amos and Johanna Chisholm, with Frank Gardner and Joel Gunter reporting from Kyiv

Asking Ukraine to give up territory is 'modern-day appeasement', Biden tells BBCpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 7 May

Ex-US President Joe Biden has criticised Donald Trump's approach to Russia, in an exclusive interview with the BBC.
"It is modern-day appeasement," he tells the Today programme's Nick Robinson, when asked about Ukraine possibly giving up territory.
Biden also gives his views on the Oval Office meeting between Trump and President Zelensky - and whether he should have stepped aside as a presidential candidate earlier. Watch below.
Media caption,
Watch: Biden's first interview since leaving the White House
A noisy night in Kyivpublished at 07:32 British Summer Time 7 May
Frank Gardner
Security correspondent, reporting from Kyiv

It was a noisy night here in the Ukrainian capital. Twenty-eight Russian drones and one ballistic missile were aimed at the city.
Ukrainian air defence kicked in, but two people were killed.
Russia’s proposed ceasefire is due to start at midnight Moscow time. We’ll see.
Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia injures four peoplepublished at 07:25 British Summer Time 7 May

Image source, Reuters
More details now on the Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, which has injured four people.
Russia hit the southern Ukrainian city with dozens of drone strikes, Zaporizhzhia's regional head Ivan Fedorov says in a post on Telegram.
Multiple houses and high-rise buildings were damaged, as well as critical infrastructure facilities, Fedorov adds.
Image source, Reuters/State Emergency Service Of Ukraine
Image caption,
Rescuers carry a man who was trapped beneath a residential building hit by a Russian drone strike
Ukrainian drone attack forces more airport closures in Moscowpublished at 07:10 British Summer Time 7 May

Russia says Ukraine launched a drone attack on Moscow overnight - days before foreign leaders gather in the capital for a World War Two parade.
The attack forced Moscow to shut four major airports for a few hours - the second night in a row of such closures. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defence units destroyed at least 14 drones.
There were no reported casualties and Ukraine has not commented.
Vladimir Putin is due to host a parade in Moscow on 9 May to mark the victory of the Soviet Union and allies over Nazi Germany. World leaders, including China's Xi Jinping, are arriving in the city today and tomorrow.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Rehearsals for the parade are taking place in Moscow - the "Z" symbol is a sign of support for Russia's armed forces
Hours before ceasefire due to begin, attacks in Russia and Ukraine continuepublished at 06:56 British Summer Time 7 May

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
A drone exploding over Kyiv on Wednesday morning
Russian drone and missile strikes have killed two people in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and injured at least six others - including four children - local officials say.
Overnight strikes also injured four people in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian police say.
On the other side of the border, Russia's air defence forces say they repelled 14 drones flying towards Moscow overnight.
It is the third night in a row that Ukraine has targeted Moscow, and the second night in a row that airports in the capital have been forced to temporarily close.
The attacks come hours before a three-day ceasefire - announced by Vladimir Putin - is due to begin. Putin says attacks will stop at midnight local time (22:00 BST) - although Ukraine has dismissed the truce as "theatrical".
The ceasefire was called to mark Victory Day - on Friday, foreign leaders will gather in Moscow's Red Square for a massive parade that commemorates Nazi Germany's surrender in World War Two.