Two killed in Moscow drone attack

Ukraine on Tuesday launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow, killing at least two workers at a meat warehouse, injuring 18 others and causing a short shutdown at the Russian capital's four airports, Reuters reported, citing Russian officials.

A total of 337 drones were downed over Russia, including 91 over Moscow region and 126 over Kursk region where Ukrainian forces have been pulling back, the defence ministry said.

The dawn attack unfurled as U.S. officials were to meet a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia to seek an end of the three-year-war and as Russian forces try to encircle thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in the western Russian region of Kursk.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Tuesday's was the biggest Ukrainian drone attack on the city, which along with the surrounding region has a population of at least 21 million and is one of the biggest metropolitan areas in Europe.

A senior Russian lawmaker suggested Russia should retaliate for Tuesday's raid by striking Ukraine with the "Oreshnik" hypersonic missile which Moscow fired on Ukraine last November after the U.S. and UK allowed Kyiv to strike deeper into Russia with Western missiles.

Colonel General Andrei Kartapolov, head of parliament's defence committee and a former deputy defence minister, said such a decision was up to President Vladimir Putin. "But I think it would be useful - and not just one," he said.

Miratorg, one of Russia's biggest meat producers, said two employees were killed by falling debris.

Another 18 people were injured, including three children, as residences were also struck, Russian officials said.