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Russia Increases Drone Attacks by Over 50% Since Start of Peace Negotiations, Says The Telegraph

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Maryna_kulakova
Maryna Kulakova
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Russia Increases Drone Attacks by Over 50% Since Start of Peace Negotiations, Says The Telegraph
A car burns after a drone strike, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 29, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

The number of Russian drone strikes on Ukraine has surged by over 50% since the start of peace negotiations initiated by the United States, according to The Telegraph on April 4.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, over the 30 days following February 18, when US-Russia talks about ending the war began, Russia carried out about 4,776 drone strikes, compared to 3,148 in the 30 days prior.

Experts say Moscow has ramped up its attacks to seize as much territory as possible and pressure Kyiv into making concessions. The Telegraph also highlighted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for Ukraine to intercept enemy missiles, leading to more attacks on civilian targets by Russia.

Daniel Byman, director of the War, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stated, "Russia is trying to increase the pain it is inflicting on Ukraine to make it more likely that Kyiv will make painful concessions and to show that Russia can continue the fight indefinitely."

The numbers show that, prior to the meeting of delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, Ukraine was subjected to an average of 101 drone attacks per day. After this meeting, the daily average rose to 154, a 52.5% increase.

The Telegraph's analysis also revealed that the surge in Russian attacks coincided with times when Donald Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, and the United States paused intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. It is also noted that Russian attacks have become "larger and more effective," partly due to changes in Russia's drone tactics.

The report also reminded that, ahead of the first round of talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Russian forces launched 176 drones in a night-time attack.

On March 25, Zelenskyy confirmed that a 30-day ceasefire agreement in the Black Sea and a mutual ban on strikes against energy infrastructure between Ukraine and Russia, brokered with US involvement, came into effect.

Since the announcement of the ceasefire, Russia has violated the agreement several times, launching attacks on the country’s energy facilities.

Previously, a Russian Molniya drone struck a vehicle 20 kilometers from the front line in the Kharkiv region. Inside were a Ukrainian Witness journalist and several soldiers on their way to film a Hyacinth-B towed artillery crew in action.

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