Russia launched an intense drone and missile attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight, killing a mother and her son in the capital, amid faltering U.S.-backed attempts to broker a pause in the fighting.

The volley came just days before a planned parade in the capital to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

Two people were killed and eight injured after Russia targeted Kyiv with drones and missiles overnight, hours before a unilateral three-day cease-fire announced by Moscow was due to come into effect Wednesday night.