Russian drone strikes on Ukraine hit all-time record in July

Russia fired more drones at Ukraine in July than in any month since it launched its 2022 invasion, intensifying its deadly bombardment of the country as peace talks stalled, an AFP analysis showed Friday.

The analysis, which used data published by Ukraine's air force, showed Russia fired 6,297 long-range drones into Ukraine last month -- up nearly 16 percent compared with June and the third straight monthly increase.

Russia also fired 198 missiles into Ukraine in July, more than in any month this year except in June, according to the data.


The attacks, which trigger air raid sirens and send civilians scrambling for shelter, took place on every night of the month.

The Kremlin has consistently rejected a ceasefire in Ukraine, saying in July it saw no immediate diplomatic way out of its nearly three-and-a-half year invasion.

Three rounds of direct negotiation between Moscow and Kyiv since May have failed to yield a peace deal.

Russia's escalation of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine led to a three-year high in the number of civilians killed or wounded in June, the United Nations said last month.

A combined drone and missile strike on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early Thursday killed at least 31 people, 28 of whom were in a nine-storey apartment block partially reduced to rubble by a missile, authorities said.

Five of the dead were children, rescue service spokesperson Pavlo Petrov said.

US President Donald Trump, who has become increasingly frustrated with the Kremlin's refusal to accept a ceasefire, has given Moscow until next Friday to reach a deal or face sweeping sanctions.

Russia has ramped up its drone production to an industrial scale since the war began.

Ukraine has sought to roll out new air defences in response, tasking manufacturers with producing thousands of cheap interceptor drones to destroy their Russian counterparts.