Russia and Ukraine Exchange Hundreds of POWs Hours After Missile Attack on Kiev

Kiev: Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war on Saturday. The Russian Defense Ministry has said that this exchange is part of a larger operation, which shows the aspect of mutual cooperation despite the ceasefire not being agreed between the two countries. This exchange of prisoners has taken place a few hours after Russia's large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine. At least 15 people have been injured in Russia's drone and missile attack on Ukraine. Zelensky and the Russian Defense Ministry have expressed hope that the release of soldiers will continue in the future.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Russian Defense Ministry said that on Saturday both sides exchanged 307-307 soldiers. A day earlier, both countries had released a total of 390 people, including soldiers. Soldiers and civilians are being released as part of the exchange as per the agreement reached between Ukraine and Russia in a meeting held last week in Istanbul, Turkey.

Attack with more than 250 drones

A few hours before the exchange of prisoners on Saturday, Russia launched a fierce attack on the Ukrainian capital with drones and missiles. This forced the people of Kiev to take refuge in the underground subway station. Officials said that Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahid drones overnight. He said that the Ukrainian army shot down six missiles and intercepted 117 drones, while 128 drones were shot down.

The Kiev city military administration said it was one of the largest combined missile and drone attacks on the capital. Debris from intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least six urban districts of the Ukrainian capital. According to Timur Tkachenko, acting head of the Kiev military administration, six people needed medical care after the attack and fires broke out in two places in the Solomiansky district of Kiev.

The administration said the most damage was in the Obolon district, where a residential building was heavily damaged in the attack and at least five people were injured in the area. Local resident Yuri Bondarchuk said that the air raid siren sounded as usual and then the drones started flying and a few moments later he heard an explosion. Talking about the damage to his apartment, he said that the balcony had collapsed.