Ukraine’s Foreign Minister details heavy air strikes on third day of prisoner exchange.
Ukraine’s military confirmed that Russian forces launched 298 drones and 69 missiles overnight, marking one of the most aggressive aerial assaults of the conflict.
The nation’s air force reported that nearly all of Ukraine experienced enemy attacks, with 22 regions noting air strikes and debris from downed missiles and drones falling in 15 locations.
Security officials in Kyiv stated that four individuals were killed and 16 more were injured as a result of the attacks in the capital.
Further casualties were reported, including three children aged eight, 12, and 17 in the Zhytomyr area, and another fatality in Mykolaiv in the south.
Additionally, four individuals lost their lives and civilian infrastructure was damaged during strikes in Khmelnytski.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha branded the night as “extremely challenging” following the most severe Russian air raids seen in weeks.
Ukraine faced a challenging Sunday after enduring a restless night. This marks the largest Russian air attack in weeks, stretching throughout the night.
Hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles were launched into Ukrainian territories, causing injury and destruction… pic.twitter.com/FcawH6DJD4
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) May 25, 2025
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed more than a dozen enemy drones were active in the region surrounding the capital.
He noted damage to infrastructure, including a student dormitory, a private residence, and an apartment building.
Despite these claims, Moscow’s Defence Ministry asserted that it shot down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported 12 drones heading towards the Russian capital had been intercepted, and flight limitations were imposed on at least four airports, including Sheremetyevo, the primary international airport.
Significant prisoner exchange
Under the backdrop of these attacks, the two countries proceeded with their most substantial prisoner exchange since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In Istanbul, Turkiye, prior negotiations led to Kiev and Moscow agreeing to a reciprocal exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s Defence Ministry both declared that the exchange successfully brought home 307 servicemen each, with each side previously releasing a combined total of 390 individuals and civilians.
Additional prisoner releases are expected as per Zelenskyy’s statement on his official Telegram channel, which was corroborated by the Russian Defence Ministry.
These attacks come as a continuation of the previous day’s violence, where Ukraine reported 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles from Russia, while Russia claimed to have been hit by at least 100 Ukrainian drones.
