Hours before its Victory Day celebrations, Russia launched another wave of air strikes on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military said 23 of the 25 cruise missiles fired were destroyed. Most of them were aimed at the capital Kyiv, which came under attack for the fifth time this month.

The air raid siren went off at around 04:00, and Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv’s military administration, said about 18 “air targets” were intercepted in the airspace of the capital.

The latest strikes happened one day after Russia launched what local authorities described as the largest drone attack on the city in the war, with more than three dozen drones.

Ukraine has been successful in intercepting most Russia’s missiles and drones, and officials here say the attacks are likely to be an attempt by Russia to test and exhaust the country’s air defence systems.

This happens as the Ukrainian authorities say they are finishing their plans for a much-anticipated counter-offensive to try to take back occupied territory, armed with Nato-supplied weapons and equipment.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky moved to formalise the day that Ukraine marks the allied victory over Nazi Germany on 8 May, like Western countries.

Zelensky said 9 May would become Europe Day