Ukraine and Russia have engaged in tit-for-tat drone and missile attacks as their war of attrition intensifies.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is increasingly taking the war to Russia, with fresh strikes on Moscow yesterday.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones damaged government offices in the capital, and on Thursday Russia said it downed two drones headed for Moscow, a day after two others were destroyed on approach. Targets yesterday included the west of the capital near the Karamyshinsky hydroelectric power station.

The attacks led to the closure of airspace over Moscow’s Vnukovo international airport and Kaluga city, 125 miles to the south west.

At least two drones were reported, with one filmed buzzing the Russian capital. A drone was said to have been shot down by Russia. There were also reports of an explosion in Krasnogorsk in north-west Moscow.

A car destroyed in a Russian missile attack is seen in Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on Friday

A car destroyed in a Russian missile attack is seen in Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on Friday

A car destroyed in a Russian missile attack is seen in Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on Friday

The hotel shows damage caused by a Russian missile attack on Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on Friday evening

The hotel shows damage caused by a Russian missile attack on Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on Friday evening

The hotel shows damage caused by a Russian missile attack on Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine on Friday evening

In Ukraine, a video showed a Russian rocket flying over cowering children in Zaporizhzhia before destroying a hotel. The Iskander missile attack on Thursday evening left one dead and 16 injured, four of whom were children.

Russia’s defence ministry said the strike on the Reikartz Hotel in the south-eastern city targeted a deployment point for mercenaries. But Ukraine and the United Nations said it was used by UN staff and other humanitarian agencies providing assistance to the city’s residents.

Footage showed the moment children screamed as one rocket roared overhead and slammed into the hotel a few hundred yards away.

The clip shows the hotel erupting in a fireball as a second missile hits. Images of the aftermath show a large crater and wrecked cars around the badly damaged building.

Russia said it foiled another Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. The drone appears to have been blown up in this image

Russia said it foiled another Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. The drone appears to have been blown up in this image

Russia said it foiled another Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. The drone appears to have been blown up in this image

The Reikartz was popular with journalists and aid workers, and was used by UN staff on humanitarian missions, according to UN co-ordinator Denise Brown.

She said: ‘I am appalled that a hotel frequently used by UN personnel and colleagues from non-governmental organisations supporting people affected by the war has been hit by a Russian strike.’

The strike was the second on the city in two days. On Thursday, president Zelensky’s office revealed the toll of an attack there on Wednesday, explaining: ‘The Russian shell took the lives of a 43-year-old man and young women who were 19 and 21.’

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