Russian strikes killed at least 13 people in Ukraine overnight into Sunday, May 25, officials said, as Kyiv and Moscow traded fire amid an ongoing major prisoner swap. Ukraine’s emergency services described a night of “terror” as Russia launched a second straight night of major air strikes on Ukraine, including on the capital Kyiv, after pummeling the country with ballistic missiles and drones overnight Friday to Saturday.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, called on Sunday for “the strongest international pressure” on Russia. “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 (…) We need the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war,” Kallas said in a post on X.
The latest fire comes as the two sides pursue their biggest prisoner swap since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and as the United States tries to broker a ceasefire to halt the three-year-old war.
The death toll from the latest Russian strikes included three children ages 8, 12 and 17, killed in the northwestern region of Zhytomyr, officials said. Ukraine’s military said early Sunday it had shot down 45 Russian missiles and 266 attack drones overnight. Four people were also reported dead in the western Khmelnytskyi region, four in the Kyiv region and two in Mykolaiv in the south. Emergency services said four people were killed and 16 injured in the Kyiv region, including three children, in the “massive night attack.”
Agence France-Presse journalists reported hearing explosions in Kyiv, with Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city’s military administration, warning that “the night will not be easy.” The capital was “under attack” but “air defenses are operating,” said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Russian authorities, meanwhile, reported that a dozen drones flying toward Moscow had been downed. In Moscow, restrictions were imposed on at least four airports, including the main hub Sheremetyevo, the Russian civilian aviation authority said.
The renewed attacks came after Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones overnight Friday to Saturday, which left 15 wounded, according to Ukrainian officials. The Russian military said Saturday that Ukraine had targeted it with 788 drones and missiles since Tuesday.
“Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media. “The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin,” he said, adding: “Sanctions will certainly help.” But he also said he expected officials to press on with a prisoner swap agreed during talks in Istanbul on May 16.
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German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also denounced the attacks. “Putin does not want peace, he wants to carry on the war and we shouldn’t allow him to do this,” he said. “For this reason we will approve further sanctions at a European level.”
Largest-ever prisoner swap completed
Russia said on Sunday it had exchanged another 303 Ukrainian prisoners of war for the same number of Russian soldiers held by Kyiv – the last phase of the largest-ever such swap between the warring countries.
“In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached in Istanbul on May 16, the Russian and Ukrainian sides have [over the weekend] carried out the exchange of 1,000 people for 1,000 people,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said, amid international pressure for a ceasefire.
On Saturday, 307 Russian prisoners of war were exchanged for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers, according to announcements in Kyiv and Moscow. Both sides received 390 people in the first stage on Friday.
Russia has signaled it will send Ukraine its terms for a peace settlement after the exchange, without saying what those terms would be. The two enemies have held regular prisoner swaps, but this would be the largest so far, if completed.
After more than three years of fighting, both countries are holding thousands of POWs. Russia is believed to have the larger share, with the number of Ukrainian captives estimated to be between 8,000 and 10,000.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stepped up in recent weeks, but the Kremlin has shown no sign of walking back maximalist demands for a negotiated peace. President Vladimir Putin has defied European pressure for a full and unconditional truce in Ukraine, pressing on with the Russian military offensive, which has left tens of thousands dead.
