Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones early on Wednesday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv and aimed unusually sharp criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine was hit by the largest airborne assault of the war after Russian unleashed more than 700 drones and missiles targeting 14 of the country's 24 provinces.

(Reuters) -Russia launched a record 728 drones against Ukraine and 13 missiles, Ukraine's air force said on Wednesday. Ukrainian air defence systems destroyed 718 of the drones and seven missiles, the air force said on the Telegram messaging app.