Russia-Ukraine War: Drones, Missiles, and Prisoner Swap/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia and Ukraine exchanged over 600 prisoners in two days amid ongoing missile and drone attacks, including a large-scale assault on Kyiv. The prisoner swap marks rare cooperation in a deeply fractured conflict. Talks are expected to continue, but both sides remain far apart on peace terms.
Massive Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap After Kyiv Assault + Quick Looks
- Over 600 prisoners exchanged in two days as part of a major deal.
- Latest swap followed a massive overnight drone and missile attack on Kyiv.
- Kyiv attack left at least 15 wounded, sparked fires, and damaged homes.
- Ukraine and Russia say more exchanges are coming, possibly making this the largest swap of the war.
- Explosions rocked Kyiv during a 7-hour air raid alert.
- Swap seen as rare cooperation amid collapsed peace talks.
- Civilians killed in other parts of Ukraine, including Odesa and the east.
- EU and Ukraine call for tougher sanctions after renewed attacks.
Russia-Ukraine War: Drones, Missiles, and Prisoner Swap
Deep Look
KYIV, Ukraine — In a rare moment of wartime cooperation, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners Saturday, just hours after Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile attacks on Kyiv since the war began.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that 307 Ukrainian captives had been returned home, with an equal number of Russian soldiers repatriated, echoing a similar 390-for-390 exchange completed the day before. Both sides said more swaps are expected in the coming days.
“We expect more to come tomorrow,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
Russia’s defense ministry echoed that claim but gave no timeline.
Deadly Night in Kyiv
The overnight assault on Kyiv included 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones, marking one of the heaviest combined air attacks on the capital. Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down six missiles and 128 drones, with another 117 drones neutralized via electronic warfare, officials said.
“A difficult night for all of us,” said Kyiv’s military administration.
Six civilians were injured, and fires broke out in multiple city districts. The hardest-hit area, Obolon, saw residential buildings heavily damaged and at least five people wounded.
Local resident Yurii Bondarchuk described the chaos:
“The sirens started as usual, then the drones. The next thing I knew, glass was shattering and the balcony was gone.”
Subway stations again served as bomb shelters as Kyiv residents endured a 7-hour air raid alert.
International Reaction and Civilian Casualties
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack “clear evidence” for increasing international sanctions on Russia. The EU’s ambassador to Kyiv, Katarina Mathernová, labeled the attack “horrific.”
Elsewhere in Ukraine, 13 civilians were killed in Russian strikes across the south, east, and north. In Odesa, a missile strike on port infrastructure killed three people, according to local governor Oleh Kiper.
Russia’s defense ministry said its forces targeted military facilities including “missile and drone factories, anti-air systems, and intelligence centers.”
Largest Prisoner Exchange Yet
The ongoing swaps mark the largest exchange of captives since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The initial phase on Friday brought home 390 Ukrainians, with Saturday’s swap adding another 307, according to Ukrainian officials. Russia reported a symmetrical return of its captured personnel.
The transfer occurred near Belarus, according to Ukrainian officials.
Released Russians were flown to Belarus for medical care, Russia said.
This complex deal, involving 1,000 prisoners from each side, was agreed upon during peace talks held earlier this month in Istanbul, the first direct talks in over a year.
A Glimmer of Hope, But No Ceasefire Yet
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the exchange as a “confidence-building measure.” Despite this gesture, no ceasefire has been agreed, and frontline combat remains intense.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would soon submit a draft “sustainable peace plan”, but details remain vague. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov admitted that no venue had been confirmed for a next round of talks.
“This doesn’t mean the war is nearing its end,” said one Western diplomat. “But it’s a signal that diplomacy may not be entirely dead.”
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