At least nine people were killed in Ukraine overnight Sunday as Russian strikes targeted multiple regions, amid ongoing clashes and a significant prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow. Four civilians died in the western Khmelnytskyi region, another four in the Kyiv region which has been attacked for the second consecutive night and one in the southern city of Mykolaiv, officials confirmed.
Sergiy Tyurin, deputy head of Khmelnytskyi’s military administration, reported that hostile fire caused severe destruction of civilian infrastructure and injured five others in the region. Emergency services stated that the Kyiv region experienced a “massive night attack,” leaving 16 people injured, including three children. The death in Mykolaiv occurred after a residential building was struck by a drone.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities announced that they had intercepted a dozen drones heading toward Moscow, prompting restrictions at major airports including Sheremetyevo. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the drones were shot down before reaching the capital.
The attacks come during the largest prisoner swap since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Over the weekend, 307 Russian prisoners of war were exchanged for an equal number of Ukrainian soldiers, following an earlier exchange of 390 people each on Friday. Officials expect the total exchanges to reach 1,000 on each side. Released Ukrainian soldiers, many emaciated but relieved, arrived in northern Chernigiv and expressed overwhelming emotions after years in captivity.
Despite the ongoing violence, diplomatic efforts persist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Moscow’s missile and drone strikes as a sign of prolonging the war, while emphasizing the importance of continuing prisoner swaps. Russia has indicated it will soon present peace terms to Ukraine but has yet to clarify their content.
The conflict shows no sign of abating, with thousands of prisoners held by both sides and Russia continuing its offensive despite international calls for a ceasefire. As fighting intensifies, the hope for a peaceful resolution remains fragile amid a prolonged and devastating war.
