Kyiv, Ukraine – Might 24, 2025 – Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was rocked by a large-scale Russian drone and missile assault within the early hours of Saturday, Might 24, 2025, leaving not less than 15 civilians injured and inflicting vital injury to residential and business infrastructure. The assault, described by Ukrainian officers as probably the most intense aerial bombardments of the warfare, coincided with the beginning of the most important prisoner trade between Russia and Ukraine because the battle started in February 2022.
Devastating In a single day Assault on Kyiv
The Ukrainian Air Drive reported that Russia launched 250 long-range drones and 14 ballistic missiles concentrating on Kyiv in a single day, marking a major escalation in aerial aggression. Particles from intercepted missiles and drones fell throughout not less than 4 metropolis districts, sparking fires and damaging a shopping center and residential buildings, together with within the Solomianskyi and Obolon districts. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko and the performing head of the Kyiv navy administration confirmed that two fires broke out, with emergency providers working tirelessly to comprise the injury.
Yurii Bondarchuk, a Kyiv resident, recounted the chaos to the Related Press: “Air raid sirens went off, and drones had been flying round once I heard a increase. The balcony is completely worn out, in addition to the home windows and doorways.” A medic, recognized solely as Vladyslav for safety causes, described an evening of “fixed explosions” and “brilliant flashes,” forcing him to help in evacuating residents as flames engulfed elements of town. Many Kyiv residents sought shelter in underground subway stations all through the night time, a grim reminder of the warfare’s unrelenting toll on civilians.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault, stating on X: “With every such assault, the world turns into extra sure that the reason for prolonging the warfare lies in Moscow.” He known as for stronger worldwide sanctions to strain Russia into ending the battle, emphasizing that the strikes focused civilian infrastructure throughout a number of areas, together with Odesa, Vinnytsia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipro, and Kyiv.
Historic Prisoner Swap Amid Ongoing Battle
Hours earlier than the assault, Russia and Ukraine initiated the most important prisoner-of-war trade because the warfare’s onset, a uncommon second of cooperation in a battle that has claimed a whole lot of hundreds of lives. On Friday, Might 23, 2025, both sides launched 390 people—270 navy personnel and 120 civilians—as a part of a deal to trade 1,000 prisoners every over three days. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that the freed Ukrainians included servicemen who fought in areas resembling Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson, in addition to civilians detained by Russian forces.
The swap, agreed upon throughout temporary talks in Istanbul the earlier week, befell on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. Emotional scenes unfolded in Ukraine’s Chernihiv area, the place households draped in blue and yellow Ukrainian flags gathered to welcome returning prisoners. Images and movies confirmed freed Ukrainians, many with shaved heads and carrying navy fatigues, waving flags and chatting with family members over the cellphone, some in tears. The Russian Ministry of Protection reported that its freed servicemen and civilians, together with these captured throughout Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk area, had been receiving medical and psychological help in Belarus earlier than returning to Russia.
President Zelenskyy hailed the trade, stating on X: “We’re bringing our individuals house. The primary stage of the ‘1,000-for-1,000’ trade settlement has been carried out.” He emphasised the significance of verifying each element to make sure all captives are returned, with additional swaps anticipated on Saturday and Sunday.
A Advanced Path to Peace
The prisoner trade, whereas a major humanitarian step, emerged from stalled peace talks in Istanbul, the primary direct assembly between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since March 2022. The 2-hour dialogue did not advance ceasefire efforts, with Russia demanding territorial concessions and Ukraine’s disarmament—phrases Kyiv rejected as tantamount to give up. Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated a second spherical of talks would comply with, however Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed skepticism, citing Russia’s historical past of inconsistent actions.
The timing of the Kyiv assault, hours after the prisoner swap started, underscored the fragility of diplomatic progress. Analysts recommend Russia’s intensified strikes could also be an try and venture power following latest battlefield setbacks, together with Ukraine’s momentary occupation of elements of Russia’s Kursk area. Ukrainian officers and allies, together with U.S. President Donald Trump, who introduced the swap prematurely on social media, expressed hope that the trade may pave the way in which for broader negotiations, although no concrete agreements have materialized.
World Reactions and Ongoing Challenges
Worldwide leaders have known as for de-escalation, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urging China’s President Xi Jinping to help peace efforts and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni backing a proposal for Vatican-mediated talks, which Russia dismissed as “unrealistic.” In the meantime, the warfare’s toll continues to mount, with estimates of a whole lot of hundreds of troopers and tens of hundreds of civilians killed or wounded since 2022.
As Kyiv recovers from the newest assault and households reunite with freed prisoners, the juxtaposition of violence and humanitarian gestures highlights the warfare’s complexity. Zelenskyy’s name for stronger international strain on Russia resonates as Ukraine braces for additional exchanges and potential Russian offensives within the coming months.
