Massive Prisoner Swap and Intense Assaults on Ukraine's Territory
Russia and Ukraine have concluded the largest prisoner exchange since the onset of the conflict, with each side releasing 1,000 detainees. This significant exchange transpired over a three-day period starting May 23rd.
Whilst this humanitarian gesture was happening, Moscow launched what is reportedly the most intensive air strikes on Ukraine to date. The strikes involved around 300 drones, approximately 70 missiles, and cruise missiles, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and injuring numerous others, according to the authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the strikes as terrorism and called for heightened pressure from the West on Moscow.
Zelensky stated, "Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to claim lives daily in his war. The absence of real, strong condemnation from America and the world's other nations only emboldens Putin. Sanctions will certainly help desist this brutality."
Zelensky added that the strikes were deliberate and targeted civilian cities. Residential buildings sustained damage and destruction. Rescue teams were reportedly active in over 30 cities and villages across the country. The Russian Ministry of Defense disclosed numerous Ukrainian drone attacks over the weekend.
In the Ukrainian region of Shytomyr, west of the capital, twochildren aged 8 and 12, and a 17-year-old individual lost their lives. At least 12 individuals also sustained injuries there. In the Kiev region, at least 4 people died and 16 were injured in Russian air strikes, according to authorities. Images and videos released by the civil defense depicted heavy destruction and destroyed and burning houses in villages.
Four fatalities and five injuries were reported in the region of Chmelnyzkyj in the west of the country. In the city of Mykolajiw in the south, a drone struck a five-story building. This incident resulted in one fatality and five residents, including a teenager, were injured.
Moscow justified these intense attacks, which also extended to Russian territory in recent days, by citing Ukrainian drone attacks on its territory. The military leadership in Moscow explained that the Russian air strikes were aimed at military objects, such as arms factories that producedmissiles, explosives, fuel, and drones for the Ukrainian military. "All designated targets were hit," the Moscow Ministry of Defense announced. However, there have been no statements from Ukraine regarding the damage in the military area.
Despite the prisoner exchange, there is no indication of a ceasefire or broader peace agreement. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has indicated that Moscow will present Ukraine with a draft peace agreement once the exchange is completed, but no further developments have been reported on this front.
Zelensky, meanwhile, is open to a diplomatic resolution but has rejected a Russian demand for the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk, and Donetsk. Russia already considers these regions part of its territory.
[1] Reuters.com, "Ukraine and Russia exchange 303 prisoners, with more expected, according to Russian sources", 24 May 2025.[2] BBC.com, "Volodymyr Zelensky calls for more Western pressure on Russia over Ukraine", 24 May 2025.[3] APNews.com, "Ukraine and Russia agree to prisoner swap, first direct talks in years", 10 May 2025.
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Zelensky pleaded for stronger condemnation from western politics and increased sanctions against Moscow, citing the recent intensified air strikes targeting civilian cities as terrorism.
- Despite the largest prisoner exchange since the conflict's inception, the struggle for general-news continued as Zelensky refused to withdraw Ukrainian troops from certain regions and Russia protected its territory with air strikes, involving hundreds of drones and missiles, resulting in numerous casualties.
