Russia and Ukraine exchange a significant number of prisoners, swiftly following a substantial assault on Kyiv.
Ukraine and Russia conducted a significant prisoner swap on Saturday, with each side bringing home 307 more soldiers. The exchange marked the latest phase of a broader agreement discussed during peace talks in Istanbul on May 16. The agreement, which aimed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side, had already seen 390 combatants and civilians released in the days prior.
The exchange took place at the border with Belarus and marked the largest exchange involving Ukrainian civilians so far. The released Russians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The prisoner swap occurred hours after Kyiv came under a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack. Loud explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout the city as many sought shelter in subway stations. At least 15 people were injured during the attack.
In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month, both Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. However, significant battles continue along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line, with neither country relenting in its deep strikes.
Officials reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones overnight while Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and neutralized 245 drones. The Kyiv City Military Administration described the attack as one of the biggest combined missile and drone attacks on the capital.
The debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six Kyiv city districts. Six people required medical care after the attack, and two fires were sparked in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district. The Obolon district, where a residential building was heavily damaged, was the hardest hit, with at least five wounded in the area.
Despite the ongoing fighting, the prisoner exchange offers a glimmer of hope for a return to peace. However, it remains to be seen whether the exchange will lead to lasting negotiations and a permanent ceasefire. European leaders continue to accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet in peace efforts while he tries to press his larger army's battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the released Ukrainian civilians were taken to Belarus for medical treatment, following the significant prisoner swap at the Belarus border. Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, this exchange offers a rare instance of general-news that suggests a potential resolution, although politics and peace talks continue to be complex, with European leaders expressing concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin's reluctance in pursuing lasting negotiations and a permanent ceasefire.
