Russia and Ukraine launched drone attacks on each other's capitals on Sunday, even as both nations carried out the largest prisoner exchange since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
Explosions were heard by AFP journalists in Kyiv, with the head of the city's military administration cautioning that "the night will not be easy." At the same time, Russian officials reported that a dozen drones heading towards Moscow had been intercepted and shot down.
The drone assaults occurred against the backdrop of a significant prisoner swap — the most extensive exchange since the war started over three years ago.
In Kyiv, at least 10 people were injured due to Russia’s overnight drone attacks. Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to remain in shelters, confirming that the capital was "under attack" while assuring that "air defences are operating."
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said "more than a dozen enemy drones" were detected over the city and surrounding areas. Some drones had already been destroyed, he added, but others continued to enter Kyiv's airspace. Falling debris reportedly damaged a five-storey residential building.
Other Ukrainian regions, including Mykolaiv and Kherson, also reported overnight strikes.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, drone-related disruptions forced authorities to impose restrictions on at least four airports, including the primary Sheremetyevo airport, according to Russia's civilian aviation agency. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that 12 drones targeting the capital had been successfully downed.
Surge in Aerial Attacks
These renewed attacks followed Ukraine's report on Saturday that Russia had launched a massive barrage of 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones overnight. Ukrainian officials said 15 people were wounded in those strikes.
Russia, in turn, claimed on Saturday that it had been targeted by 788 drones and missiles from Ukraine since Tuesday alone. Dozens of drones aimed at Moscow have reportedly been intercepted in the past week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the intensity of Russian attacks was a sign that Moscow was "prolonging the war." He reiterated his appeal for tougher international sanctions against Russia. Nevertheless, Zelensky confirmed that the large-scale prisoner swap agreed upon during recent talks in Istanbul was proceeding.
On Saturday, each side exchanged 307 prisoners of war. This followed a first stage on Friday in which both nations received 390 prisoners each. In total, the ongoing exchange is expected to involve 1,000 POWs per side.
Russia has indicated it may present peace terms to Ukraine following the prisoner exchange, although it has not specified the terms.
While prisoner swaps have occurred throughout the conflict, none have matched the scale of this latest operation.
An AFP correspondent witnessed the emotional arrival of formerly captive Ukrainian soldiers at a hospital in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region. The freed soldiers, visibly emaciated but smiling, waved to crowds awaiting them. As they stepped off buses, tearful family members rushed to greet them, some clutching photographs of missing loved ones, hoping for news.
Many of the soldiers were draped in Ukraine's blue and yellow flags. "It's simply crazy. Crazy feelings," said 31-year-old soldier Konstantin Steblev, who had spent three years in captivity.
Emotional Homecomings and International Reactions
Another returning soldier, 58-year-old Viktor Syvak, recounted his emotional return after being captured in Mariupol. He had spent 37 months and 12 days as a prisoner. "I didn't expect such a welcome. It's impossible to describe. I can’t put it into words. It's very joyful," he told AFP.
Thousands of prisoners of war are believed to remain in captivity on both sides, with Russia reportedly holding a greater number — estimates suggest between 8,000 and 10,000 Ukrainian captives remain in Russian custody.
International diplomatic efforts to end the war have intensified recently, though Russia continues to press its offensive. President Vladimir Putin has continued to defy European pressure for a full and unconditional truce in Ukraine.
Amid the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump responded to news of the prisoner exchange with cautious optimism. "This could lead to something big???" he posted on his Truth Social platform. Trump has pledged to rapidly end the war, though his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Europe's largest conflict since World War II have so far been unsuccessful.
As the war enters its fourth year, the weekend's events underscore both the deepening violence and the fragile threads of diplomacy still being tested between the two nations.
