Russia Strikes Ukraine in Middle of First Stage of Major Prisoner Swap

Kyiv main target of strikes; both sides expected to exchange 1,000 prisoners each

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KYIV – A massive Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv on May 24 wounded at least 15 people, just as Russia and Ukraine were in the middle of a major prisoner swap.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 attack drones overnight, adding that it downed six missiles and 245 drones.

Kyiv was "the main target of the enemy attack," the air force said in a statement.

"With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media platform X.

"Only additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy will force Moscow to cease fire," he said.

Kyiv city officials reported fires and fallen debris in several parts of the Ukrainian capital after AFP journalists heard explosions overnight.

The police said 15 people were injured in Kyiv itself and two more in the surrounding region. Officials said five civilians were killed by Russian strikes in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

The Russian military, meanwhile, said Ukraine had targeted it with 788 drones and missiles since May 20.