Kiev: Russia launched a fierce attack on the capital of Ukraine with drones and missiles in the early hours of Saturday, causing explosions to be heard across the city and many people of Kiev were forced to take refuge in the underground 'subway station'. This attack was carried out at a time when the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine began just a few hours ago. Hundreds of soldiers and civilians were released as part of the exchange in the first phase of the agreement reached between the two sides in a meeting held last week in Istanbul.
Timur Tkachenko, the acting head of the Kiev military administration, said on the social media platform 'Telegram' that debris from missiles and drones intercepted in the sky early Saturday fell in at least four districts of the city. According to Tkachenko, six people needed medical care after the attack and fires broke out in two places in the Solomyansky district of Kiev.
Attack warnings continued throughout the night
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. He said about the damage to his apartment, 'The balcony is completely destroyed, windows and doors are also destroyed.' Air raid warnings related to the arrival of missiles and drones continued in Kiev for more than seven hours overnight.
Before the Russian attack, the city's mayor Vitaly Klitschko had warned Kiev residents that more than 20 Russian attack drones were heading towards Kiev. He said that during the attack, the debris of the drone fell on a 'shopping mall' and a residential building in the Obolon district of Kiev. Klitschko said emergency services have reached the spot.
First exchange of hostages
Russia and Ukraine are to exchange 1,000 prisoners each and Friday was its first phase. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 390 Ukrainians were brought back in the first phase and more people are expected to be released over the weekend. Russia's Defense Ministry said it has also got the same number of prisoners back from Ukraine. A Ukrainian official said the exchange took place on the Belarus border in northern Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the released Russians have been taken to Belarus for medical treatment. When the released people entered the medical establishment on Friday, they had placards with names and photographs of relatives and loved ones in their hands. They were calling out the names of their loved ones.
