Russia Launches Major Strike on Kyiv Amid Largest POW Exchange with Ukraine

TDT | Manama

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Missile and drone barrage injures civilians as prisoner swap efforts continue

A large-scale Russian missile and drone assault struck Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early Saturday, injuring at least 15 civilians, even as Russia and Ukraine carried out the most extensive prisoner exchange since the war began in 2022.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed-type attack drones overnight, with six missiles and 245 drones successfully intercepted. Kyiv was the primary target, officials said, as debris and fires were reported across multiple districts of the city.

Civilians Caught in Crossfire

Kyiv city authorities confirmed that 15 people were injured, while additional casualties were reported in other regions. Five civilians were killed in Russian strikes on the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

Explosions were heard throughout the night by AFP correspondents in Kyiv, signaling the intensity of the latest Russian barrage.

Zelensky Blames Moscow for Prolonging War

In a post on social platform X (formerly Twitter), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, stating:

“With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow.”

He further urged the international community to impose more sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, arguing this is the only way to push Moscow toward ending the war.

Russia Also Reports Drone Attacks

While Kyiv faced the brunt of the strike, Russia's defence ministry claimed that Ukraine launched 788 drones and missiles into Russian territory since Tuesday. Many of the drones were reportedly aimed at Moscow, with dozens being shot down in recent days.

Prisoner Exchange: A Ray of Diplomacy

Despite the escalating violence, both nations have proceeded with a significant prisoner of war (POW) exchange, mediated through talks in Istanbul last week.

On Saturday, 307 POWs were exchanged on each side via Belarus, a key Russian ally. Russia stated its returning soldiers would receive medical and psychological support in Belarus before returning home.

This follows the first phase of the swap on Friday, where 390 individuals were exchanged. In total, both sides are expected to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.

“We expect the exchange to continue tomorrow,” said President Zelensky.

Peace Proposal Hinted but Details Omitted

Following the exchange, Moscow signaled it would send Ukraine its terms for a potential peace settlement, though it has yet to disclose the content of the proposal.

The parallel escalation in hostilities and diplomacy underscores the complex and volatile nature of the ongoing conflict, now in its third year, with no clear end in sight.