Overnight Saturday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged extensive air attacks, deploying hundreds of drones in prolonged raids. These operations coincided with the largest prisoner swap of the conflict, highlighting that efforts to ease tensions have yet to yield a diplomatic solution.
The Russian offensive was notable for its scale, involving 250 long-range drones alongside 14 ballistic missiles, with Kyiv as the main focus. Ukraine’s air defenses reported intercepting six missiles and nearly all drones, but the assault still caused injuries to at least 15 people in the capital as drone strikes and falling debris ignited fires in residential buildings.
Residents of Kyiv were awakened by the thunderous sounds of anti-aircraft fire as defense systems targeted incoming missiles and drones. The night was illuminated by bright trails from rising air defense missiles and the red flashes of heavy machine gun fire. Explosions triggered car alarms, blending with the sounds of gunfire and the buzzing of attack drones overhead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the night as challenging for the entire country, emphasizing that such attacks reinforce the view that Moscow is responsible for prolonging the conflict. He reiterated Ukraine’s repeated proposals for a temporary cease-fire, which have been consistently ignored.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified its own air strikes against Russian targets in recent weeks. Earlier this week, it launched several hundred drones targeting Russian cities, including Moscow, in one of the largest drone offensives of the war, temporarily disrupting airport operations.
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