Russia initiates major drone assault against Ukraine amidst seamless prisoner exchange process.
Kyiv endured a substantial Russian drone and missile attack during the early hours of May 25, 2025, resulting in injuries for at least 15 individuals, as confirmed by Ukrainian officials. Explosions and machine gun fire were persistent throughout the city as Kyiv residents sought refuge in subway stations.
This large-scale assault occurred just hours following a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, marking the first phase of a swap arranged in Istanbul last week. The agreement, a rare instance of cooperation between the two warring factions, was attempted as an initial step towards reaching a ceasefire, which has thus far proven elusive.
Russian forces assailed Ukraine with 56 Isk ballistic missiles, 4 guided air-to-surface missiles, and 298 attack drones, according to Ukrainian reports. Air defense systems were operational throughout the night, intercepting or neutralizing 45 cruise missiles and 266 drones. Affected regions exceeded 22 locations, with debris from downed missiles or drones discovered in 15 areas.
The attack on Kyiv marked one of the most intense combined missile and drone attacks on the city since the invasion commenced three years prior. The debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six districts within the Ukrainian capital. The Solomianskyi district suffered significant damage from two residential buildings being heavily affected, while a five-story building in the Holosiivskyi district sustained damage, causing injuries to four residents.
Local resident Yurii Bondarchuk reported the air raid siren in Kyiv sounded as usual before drones began circling the city. Minutes later, he described hearing a boom, followed by shattered glass flying through the air. He noted his balcony, windows, and doors were destroyed, while he stood outside in the dark, smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
The air raid alert in Kyiv lasted for over seven hours, cautioning residents of incoming missiles and drones. The exchange completed on Friday is the first phase of a complex deal, planned to involve the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the initial phase brought home 390 Ukrainians, with more releases expected over the weekend, eventually making it the largest swap of the war.
However, the prisoner exchange did not signal an end to the fighting, as battles continued along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. There have been no signs of either country relenting in their deep strikes. Despite the ongoing conflict, both sides agreed in principle to another meeting at an undecided location, as diplomatic maneuvering persisted.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan labeled the prisoner swap a "confidence-building measure," identifying this step as a sign of potential progress. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said negotiations regarding the location for the next round of talks had yet to be finalized.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow would offer Ukraine a draft document outlining conditions for a "sustainable, long-term, comprehensive" peace agreement once the ongoing prisoner exchange concluded. European leaders accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of intentionally dragging his feet in peace efforts while attempting to advance his army's battlefield initiative and capture more Ukrainian land.
The Istanbul meeting revealed that both sides remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting, one of which being Ukraine's demand for a temporary ceasefire serving as a preliminary step toward a peaceful settlement. Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down 788 Ukrainian drones away from the battlefield between May 20 and May 23, while Ukraine's air force documented a separate wave of 175 Shahed and decoy drones, in addition to one ballistic missile since late Thursday.
- The attack on Kyiv, a grueling combination of missiles and drones, was one of the most intense such incidents since the war-and-conflicts began three years ago, occurring in the capital city that is a hotspot of both politics and general-news.
- As Russian forces persisted in their deep strikes along the front line, political leaders from both warring nations agreed in principle to another meeting, hoping to edge closer to a sustainable, long-term, comprehensive peace agreement, a significant step in the realm of international politics.
