In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched a major attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 individuals across the nation. This offensive coincides with the second day of a substantial prisoner exchange between the two nations, during which hundreds of prisoners were released. According to regional officials, the past 24 hours have seen fatalities in various regions: at least four people were killed in the eastern Donetsk region, five in the southern Kherson and Odesa regions, and another four in the northern Kharkiv region.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 attack drones targeting the country, with Kyiv being the primary focus of the assault. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted six of the missiles and 245 of the drones, although projectiles still struck the Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the families of those affected, stating, “It was a difficult night for all of Ukraine” via Telegram.
In Kyiv, the overnight attack resulted in injuries to at least 18 individuals, according to police reports. The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, revealed that the assault ignited multiple fires and scattered debris throughout the capital. Witnesses reported explosions and the wailing of sirens resonating across the city, with several fires visible against the nighttime skyline.
Ukrainian parliament member Kira Rudik shared her harrowing experience during the bombardment, stating she spent the night hiding “under the stairs” in Kyiv. “It was terrifying; it felt honestly like Armageddon, the explosions were everywhere,” she recounted. This frightening episode unfolded just after Russia and Ukraine initiated the first phase of what is anticipated to be the largest prisoner exchange since the onset of the war.
On Saturday, over 600 Russian and Ukrainian servicemen were released as part of the second phase of the prisoner exchange agreement. Videos from the Ukrainian Coordination Center for Treatment of Prisoners of War captured the emotional reunions, showing many of the released men, predominantly with shaved heads and draped in Ukrainian flags, joyfully embracing each other and reaching out to loved ones via phone.
During the first phase of the swap, nearly 800 individuals were released. The agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side emerged as the primary outcome of a recent meeting held in Istanbul, marking the first in-person dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow since Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
One particularly poignant reunion involved Olena, a Ukrainian woman whose husband, Yuriy, spent six months in Russian captivity. After his release in the prisoner swap, a video shared by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense depicted her running to embrace him tightly. “This is the best day. I was running, looking for him, screaming. I am very grateful,” Olena exclaimed in the emotional footage. The day before, in her desperation to find Yuriy, she had asked several released prisoners if they recognized her husband, but none could help, leaving her distressed.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha highlighted the tireless efforts of the country’s air defense forces, stating they worked “non-stop” to counter Russian air attacks throughout the night. He criticized Russia for failing to send its promised “peace memorandum” a week after the Istanbul meeting, instead opting to launch deadly drones and missiles against civilians.
In contrast, Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have destroyed 94 Ukrainian UAVs over its territory, primarily over the Belgorod and Bryansk regions, with additional UAVs intercepted over Kursk, Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Tula regions. The governor of Tula, Dmitry Miliaev, reported that three individuals were injured, two of whom required hospitalization.
The Istanbul meeting, initially proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was seen by many as an attempt to stall progress in negotiations. Ukraine and its allies demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, but the meeting concluded without any major breakthroughs.
This ongoing conflict continues to escalate, marked by tragic losses and moments of hope as prisoners are exchanged amidst the chaos. As Ukraine faces relentless attacks, the resilience of its people remains evident in their determination to support one another during these trying times.
