Month after month, Ukraine has increased the size and scope of its drone assaults within Russia despite the war's strategic pressures.

"If there were previously eight channels, now there are 16," said a spokesperson for Ukraine's air force to local TV.

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the United States on Wednesday to further sanction Moscow, which he said was clearly not pursuing a "real peace" after a night of Russian drone attacks that caused damage in several places.

Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia have persisted as U.S. officials engage with Moscow in talks aimed at bringing an end to the war.

Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine early on Wednesday, firing Iskander-M and S-300 missiles and deploying 145 Shahed-type drones, as well as decoy drones, according to Ukraine’s Air Force Command.

“New solutions are needed, with new pressure on Moscow to stop both these strikes and this war.” Also on Sunday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense said it had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones ...

For soldiers and commanders on the edge of battle, any talk about a lasting cease-fire still feels like a dangerous fantasy.

The attack underlined Moscow’s intention to pursue aerial attacks even as it agreed to temporarily halt strikes on energy facilities.

Russia on Thursday accused Ukraine of launching drones and artillery at energy sites in the border Bryansk region and Moscow-annexed Crimea despite agreements to halt such strikes. Russia's defence ministry said Kyiv had launched a drone at an electricity site in the Bryansk region on Wednesday and fired artillery at a power unit in the same region on Thursday.