Multiple Casualties Recorded As Russia Launches Major Air Attack On Ukraine

Russian attacks killed at least 12 people in Ukraine overnight, officials confirmed Sunday, as Kyiv and Moscow continued exchanging fire even while completing their largest prisoner exchange since the 2022 war began.

Ukraine’s emergency services described the night as one of “terror”, with Russia launching a second consecutive night of intense air strikes, including attacks on the capital, Kyiv.

The strikes coincided with the conclusion of a major prisoner swap in which 1,000 captured soldiers and civilians were exchanged on each side, marking the largest such exchange since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Among the victims from the latest strikes were two children, aged eight and 12, and a 17-year-old in the northwestern Zhytomyr region, officials reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks on social media, calling for stronger international pressure on Russia.

“Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Zelensky said.

“The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin.”

He added, “Sanctions will certainly help.”

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, also urged “the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war”.

“Last night’s attacks again show Russia bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine. Devastating to see children among innocent victims harmed and killed,” she said.

The renewed missile and drone strikes followed a previous assault overnight Friday into Saturday, during which Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones, injuring 15 people, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Ukraine’s military stated it shot down 45 Russian missiles and 266 drones overnight Sunday, while Russia claimed to have destroyed 110 Ukrainian drones.

Casualties included four dead in the western Khmelnytskyi region, four in the Kyiv region, and one in the southern city of Mykolaiv. Sixteen people were reported injured in Kyiv, including three children, amid the “massive night attack”.

Eyewitness Tetiana Iankovska, 65, described seeing an entire street ablaze in the village of Makhalivka near Kyiv. Another survivor, 64-year-old Oleskandr, expressed distrust in ceasefire talks, saying, “We don’t need talks but weapons, a lot of weapons, to stop them. Russia understands only force, nothing else.”

Major Prisoner Exchange Completed

Russia announced Sunday it had exchanged 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian soldiers held by Kyiv, marking the final phase of the prisoner swap agreed upon in Istanbul talks on May 16.

Over three days, both sides exchanged a total of 1,000 prisoners each, according to the Russian defence ministry. President Zelensky confirmed the swap was complete.

The exchange took place in stages, with 390 prisoners swapped on Friday and 307 on Saturday.

Following the swap, Russia indicated it would send Ukraine its terms for a peace settlement but gave no details.

Diplomatic Efforts Continue Amid Conflict

US former President Donald Trump congratulated both countries on the swap via his Truth Social platform, suggesting the exchange “could lead to something big”.

Trump’s attempts to broker a ceasefire in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II have so far been unsuccessful, despite his pledges to quickly end the fighting.

An AFP reporter witnessed some freed Ukrainian soldiers arriving at a hospital in the northern Chernigiv region, appearing thin but smiling and waving to awaiting crowds.

“It’s simply crazy. Crazy feelings,” said 31-year-old soldier Konstantin Steblev after three years in captivity.

Another former captive, 58-year-old Viktor Syvak, who spent over three years imprisoned after being captured in Mariupol, described his emotional return home.

“It’s impossible to describe. I can’t put it into words. It’s very joyful,” he said.