Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow for the second consecutive night, temporarily halting flights at four airports in the Russian capital and nine further afield – as it prepares to host a major military parade expected to be attended by world leaders including China’s Xi Jinping.

Ukraine attacked Moscow with drones for a third day on Wednesday forcing most of the Russian capital's airports to close just as Chinese President Xi Jinping was due to arrive to mark the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

Strike drones attacked Moscow and the Moscow region. Targets allegedly were shot down and debris fell in the area, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and local public channels. “Air defense forces of the Ministry of Defense repelled an attack of seven drones flying toward Moscow.

For the second night in a row, the Kremlin has reported downing Ukrainian attack drones on their approach to Moscow. While not an unprecedented event, the timing of these attacks on the Russian capital has not gone unnoticed,