Despite Trump’s call for peace, Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a double attack since independence


Matt Murphy and Ned Davies

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Reuters Donald Trump imposed the BBC verification of colors and brands. Next to him is a strike against the Ukrainian capital Keeff. Reuters

Russia has more than doubled the number of drones and missiles launched into Ukraine since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, despite calling for a ceasefire.

The attacks are already on the rise under former President Joe Biden in 2024, but have climbed sharply after Trump’s victory in the November Trump election. Moscow’s recorded air strikes have reached the highest level of war since he returned to the office in January.

Throughout his campaign, Trump vowed to end the fight in one day if he returned to the office. He claimed during the 2024 campaign that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine could have been avoided, and that the Kremlin was “respected” to serve the president.

But in order to achieve the ceasefire efforts, he was sometimes accused by critics of Russia of favoring Russia, and his government stopped air defense ammunition and other military supplies to Ukraine under two different circumstances.

The suspension – announced in March and July, after which the president reversed – Russia has steadily increased missile and drone production. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia’s ballistic missiles have increased by 66% over the past year.

Data reviewed by the BBC – Russia launched 27,158 ammunition on July 19, according to the Ukrainian Air Force’s daily event report, while Russia held 11,614 in the last six months of Beden’s term of office.

“This brutal war was triggered by the incompetence of Joe Biden, and it lasted for a long time,” White House Deputy Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement verifying to the BBC.

“President Trump wants to stop the killings, which is why he sells U.S.-made weapons to NATO members and threatens Putin with picky tariffs and sanctions if he disagrees with the ceasefire.”

During the opening week of the new administration, the White House issued a series of enthusiastic statements aimed at attracting President Vladimir Putin to a settlement. During this period, Russian attacks on Ukraine fell briefly compared to the last weeks of the Biden administration.

But by February, when U.S. diplomats led by U.S. diplomats led by U.S. diplomats met with a delegation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to hold a summit in Riyadh, the attacks had begun to climb.

Rubio said the talks were the starting point for the end of the war, followed by Discussions between Ukrainian and Russian officials In Türkiye.

Ukrainian Air Force data shows that Moscow launched 748 drones and missiles to Ukraine on July 9 earlier last month, reaching its peak. A dozen people are It is reported that the barrage was injured and the two were killed.

Despite Trump’s repeated outrage at the Russian attack, his growing frustration does not seem to affect Moscow’s strategy.

On May 25, Russia launched the largest record barrage at the time, prompting Trump to ask angrily: “What exactly happened to him (Putin)?”

Since then, Russia has reported more than 14 reports. Trump’s response is a request Kremlin reaches peace agreement with Ukraine on August 8.

The amount of Russian ammunition that penetrates Ukraine’s air defense appears to be increasing, and the explosions around the capital Kiev become part of the daily life of urban residents.

City-based journalist Dasha Volk told the BBC’s Ukrainecast plan.

“Every time you hear an explosion or a missile flying over your head, my thoughts come to my mind – I’m going to die now, something like that.”

Ukraine is “vulnerable to air attacks”

Chris Coons, a senior Democratic Senator on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the BBC that Trump’s decision to suspend arms supply twice, and his broader attitude toward Russian relations could convince the Kremlin that it has freedom to increase attacks.

“It is obvious that Putin is bold about Trump’s weaknesses and has added to his vicious attacks on the Ukrainian people, repeatedly attacking hospitals and maternal wards, Ukrainian power grids and other civilian sites,” he said.

The growing attack has caused the United States to call on the United States to send fresh Patriot anti-air battery supplies to Ukraine. The Patriots are the most capable and expensive air defense system Ukraine has. Each Patriot battery costs about $1 billion (£800 million) and each missile costs nearly $4 million.

Trump overturned the previous supply moratorium and agreed to sell weapons to NATO members, which will provide weapons to Kiev. Trump appears to suggest that the deal will include a fresh supply of Patriot batteries.

Justin Bronk, an analyst with the Russian army focused on the Royal Joint Service Academy (RUSI), said the White House supply restrictions imposed by military equipment on military equipment made Ukraine feel “vulnerable” to missile and drone attacks.

But he also pointed out that Russia has stepped up missile production and so-called “Kamikaz” drones, such as the Geran-2 (Geran-2), a domestically produced version of Iran’s Shahed drone. Mr Bronck said the increase in Russia’s inventory, coupled with a “significant reduction” in U.S. interceptor missile supply, encouraged Moscow to escalate its air movement.

EPA captured Geran drone in Ukraine. It is shown in a square on the shelf with support. It seemed to have suffered minor damage and there were a lot of people standing nearby to check it out. The flag with the Ukrainian defense intelligence badge can be seen in the background. EPA

Russia is said to be producing a large number of Geran drones for use in Ukraine

The Ukrainian Military Intelligence Agency (HUR) recently told domestic media that Russia now launches 85 ballistic missiles per month, up to 44 in April 2024.

Russia reportedly produces 170 Geran drones a day and has established a large manufacturing plant in Albuga, south of the country.

In a recent interview with Russian military television, the facility’s director Timur Shagivaleyev boasted that Alabuga has become “the world’s largest combat drone production plant”, adding that his workers’ units are nine times higher than initially expected.

Satellite images show that the facility has expanded significantly since mid-2024, with many new warehouses constructed on the site.

Other structures, including the expansion of workers’ dormitories, are still under construction.

Senator Coons warned that the increase in production means that Washington must make it clear that it is not prepared to get out of conflict due to what some administration officials threatened to do, stressing that peace can only be achieved through “surge in security aid.”

He added that President Trump must make it clear to Russia that “can’t simply try to go beyond the West.”

“In order to do this, he needs to maintain a consistent and ongoing position on the war.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Volk said the Russian campaign was delayed every day and Ukraine’s interception was public morale.

“People are tired from these attacks, and it really affects our lives,” she said.

“We know what we’re fighting for, but it’s getting harder every year because everyone is exhausted. That’s the reality.”

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