24-05-2025

Massive Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv During Prisoner Swap

Date: 24-05-2025
Sources: cnbc.com: 1 | edition.cnn.com: 2
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Source: edition.cnn.com

Image content: The image shows a heavily damaged multi-story building with shattered walls, exposed bricks, and debris scattered everywhere. A person wearing a red safety vest is in the foreground, carrying a bucket while navigating the rubble, suggesting cleanup or rescue efforts after destruction.

Summary

Russia launched one of the largest combined drone and missile assaults on Kyiv over consecutive nights, injuring dozens and killing at least three in the wider region, while damaging residential buildings across multiple districts. The attacks coincided with the largest Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange of the war, which freed nearly 1,400 people by Saturday after an agreement to swap roughly 1,000 prisoners each. Kyiv condemned the escalation amid ongoing talks that produced no ceasefire, as President Zelenskyy urged tougher international sanctions and accused Moscow of blocking peace. Russia claimed territorial gains and said it intercepted a large number of Ukrainian drones over its territory, claims that remain unverified.

Key Points

  • Russia conducted one of the largest drone and missile barrages on Kyiv, causing casualties and widespread damage.
  • The strikes coincided with a major three-day prisoner swap freeing nearly 1,400 detainees.
  • Despite first direct talks in years, no ceasefire was reached; Kyiv calls for tougher sanctions.
  • Russia claims territorial advances and drone interceptions, which are not independently verified.

Articles in this Cluster

Ukraine says 15 people hurt in 'massive' Russian attack on the capital

Russia launched one of the largest combined drone and missile attacks on Kyiv overnight, firing 14 ballistic missiles and around 250 long-range drones, Ukrainian officials said. The strikes damaged multiple apartment buildings and injured at least 15 people, including two children, with three hospitalized. Kyiv authorities called it one of the biggest assaults of the war. President Zelenskyy urged tougher international sanctions to force a ceasefire, arguing Russia is blocking peace despite ongoing talk of negotiations and a major prisoner exchange. The attack followed days of Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia. Russia claimed new territorial gains in Donetsk and Sumy, which Reuters could not independently verify.
Entities: Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, DonetskTone: urgentSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Russia launches deadly aerial assault on Ukrainian capital amid major prisoner swap | CNNClose icon

Russia launched a second consecutive night of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv amid a major three-day prisoner swap, killing three people in the Kyiv region and injuring at least 10, including two children, with widespread damage to civilian buildings. The strikes followed a deadly nationwide barrage the previous day and came as international pressure grows on Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire. Despite first direct Kyiv-Moscow talks in three years yielding no ceasefire, they produced a deal to exchange 1,000 prisoners on each side; nearly 1,400 had been freed by Saturday, with emotional reunions reported. Ukraine condemned Russia for escalating attacks during the swap, while Moscow claimed to have intercepted around 100 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory.
Entities: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Vladimir Putin, prisoner swapTone: urgentSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Video shows explosions in Kyiv as Russia launches renewed air attacks | CNNClose icon

Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile barrage against Kyiv, injuring more than a dozen people across multiple districts, according to Ukrainian police. The strikes came just hours after Russia and Ukraine began their largest prisoner exchange of the war. Video shows explosions over the capital as air defenses engaged the attack.
Entities: Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian police, air defensesTone: urgentSentiment: negativeIntent: inform