Russia and Ukraine launched major attacks on each other today, with a two-day unilateral ceasefire that Moscow had declared around its World War II commemorations appearing to be in tatters.

It came during a two-day truce for World War II celebrations by the Kremlin.

A Kremlin-proposed cease-fire to mark Victory Day collapsed within hours, as Ukraine and Russia reported hundreds of violations a day before a scaled-down military parade in Moscow.

Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of violating a unilateral ceasefire proposed by Kyiv after another wave of overnight strikes involving drones and missiles hit cities across the country. Ukrainian officials said the attacks continued only hours before the truce suggested by Kyiv was supposed to take effect at midnight on Wednesday.

Russian forces hit at least three cities across Ukraine, using "glide bombs" and drones, killing more than two dozen people and wounding dozens of others, in one of the bloodiest attack on Ukraine in months.

A Russian drone hit a kindergarten in northern Ukraine, and Moscow launched scores of drones and missiles across the country, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of ignoring a Kyiv-proposed cease-fire.

A Kremlin-proposed cease-fire to mark Victory Day collapsed within hours, as Ukraine and Russia reported hundreds of violations a day before a scaled-down military parade in Moscow.