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Russian airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals in Ukraine overnight into Sunday, according to officials.
This incident occurred as Kyiv and Moscow exchanged gunfire during a significant ongoing prisoner swap.
Ukraine's emergency services reported a night of "terror," as Russia conducted major air assaults on Ukraine, including attacks on the capital, Kyiv, after bombarding the nation with ballistic missiles and drones from Friday to Saturday.
This latest wave of attacks comes amidst the largest prisoner exchange since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, as the United States seeks to mediate a ceasefire to end the three-year conflict.
Among the casualties from the recent Russian strikes were three children, aged eight, 12, and 17, in the northwestern Zhytomyr region.
Ukraine's military announced on Sunday that they had intercepted 45 Russian missiles and 266 drones during the night. Additional casualties included four in the western Khmelnytskyi region, four in the Kyiv region, and one in the southern Mykolaiv. Emergency services confirmed that four people died and 16 were injured in the Kyiv region, including three children.
AFP journalists reported hearing explosions in Kyiv, with Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city's military administration, cautioning that "The night will not be easy." Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that while the capital was "under attack," the "air defense systems are operational."
Meanwhile, Russian officials reported downing a dozen drones heading towards Moscow, prompting restrictions at four airports, including the main hub, Sheremetyevo.
This renewed wave of attacks follows an assault where Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones from Friday to Saturday, injuring 15 people, as reported by Ukrainian officials.
The Russian military claimed on Saturday that Ukraine had targeted them with 788 drones and missiles since Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that Russia's assaults signaled Moscow was "prolonging the war" and renewed his call for increased sanctions. He also expressed hope that officials would continue with the prisoner exchange agreed upon in Istanbul on May 16.
On Saturday, 307 Russian prisoners of war were swapped for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers, as announced by both Kyiv and Moscow. In total, both sides are expected to exchange 1,000 individuals.
Russia hinted it would provide Ukraine with its terms for a peace settlement following the exchange, though specific details were not disclosed. Though the two nations have conducted regular prisoner swaps, this exchange would be the largest if completed.
An AFP reporter witnessed some freed Ukrainian soldiers arriving at a hospital in the northern Chernigiv region, appearing thin yet smiling and waving at crowds. "It's simply crazy. Crazy feelings," expressed 31-year-old soldier Konstantin Steblev as he returned to Ukrainian soil after three years of captivity.
In an additional diplomatic push, US President Donald Trump praised the two nations for the swap, suggesting it could lead to something significant on his Truth Social platform.
Despite his commitment to swiftly end the fighting, Trump’s attempts to broker a ceasefire in the largest conflict in Europe since World War II have been unsuccessful.
One former captive, 58-year-old Viktor Syvak, shared with AFP that expressing the joy of his return was challenging, having been captured in Mariupol and held for 37 months and 12 days.
After over three years of combat, both nations have thousands of prisoners of war, with Russia estimated to hold the majority, and Ukrainian captives ranging between 8,000 and 10,000.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have intensified recently, yet the Kremlin has shown no inclination to reduce its maximalist demands for a negotiated peace. President Vladimir Putin has resisted European pressure for an unconditional truce in Ukraine, continuing the Russian military campaign that has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities.
