KYIV, Dec 2: Russia escalated its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine throughout November, according to an AFP analysis published Tuesday, as the White House pushed Kyiv to accept a peace accord seen as favourable to the Kremlin.
Moscow launched a total of 5,660 missiles and long-range drones at Ukraine last month, daily reports published by Kyiv's air force showed, marking a two percent increase over the previous month.
Russian strikes have plunged tens of thousands into blackouts, with Moscow targeting Ukraine's power grid for the fourth winter running in what Kyiv and its allies say is a deliberate strategy to wear down Ukraine's civilian population.
Ukraine fires US, British missiles into Russia, launches one of...
The Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 5,445 long-range drones and 215 missiles -- a three percent increase in unmanned aerial vehicles, but a two percent decrease in missile launches.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week that stepped-up Russian and drone strikes on his country were part of an effort to "break" the will of Ukrainians to resist Moscow.
"We are seeing an increase in missile and drone strikes. This is serious pressure, not only psychological but also physical pressure on our population, simply to break Ukrainians," Zelensky told a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Russia fires drones at Ukrainian cities and energy sites on a daily basis.
Kyiv has retaliated with strikes on Russian oil depots and refineries, seeking to cut off Moscow's vital energy exports and trigger fuel shortages across the country.
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