Kyiv: Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was rocked by a massive Russian drone and missile attack in the early hours of Saturday. Explosions and the sound of gunfire echoed across the city, forcing thousands of residents to take shelter in subway stations. The assault came just hours after Russia and Ukraine initiated a major prisoner exchange — the first phase of an agreement brokered during a recent meeting in Istanbul. However, fresh attempts at securing a ceasefire have once again failed.
Tymur Tkachenko, the acting head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported that missile and drone fragments landed across at least four districts. In the Solomianskyi district, two fires broke out, and at least six people were hospitalized. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko had warned in advance that over 20 strike drones were heading toward the capital. Later, he confirmed that drone debris had struck a residential building and a shopping mall in the Obolon district. Emergency and rescue teams quickly arrived at the scenes.
The prisoner exchange, which began on Friday, saw Ukraine bring back 390 of its citizens and military personnel. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it the largest exchange of its kind so far and hinted that it could expand further over the weekend. Russia’s Ministry of Defense also confirmed it had received an equal number of prisoners from Ukraine. The handover took place near the Belarusian border, where Russian captives were transported for medical treatment. Families of the returning soldiers were seen at hospitals in Belarus, holding photographs in hopes of identifying their loved ones.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the exchange as a “confidence-building measure.” However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified that no agreement has been reached on the venue for the next round of peace talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that once the prisoner exchange is complete, Russia would present Ukraine with a draft peace proposal containing terms for a “permanent, long-term, and comprehensive” resolution.