A few hours before the planned conclusion of a comprehensive prisoner exchange, Russia has once again hit Ukraine with massive air strikes. At least twelve people, including two children and a teenager, were killed on Sunday night, according to rescue services and authorities. They spoke of a “night of terror” in the Kiev region. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia attacked Ukraine with a total of 69 missiles and 298 combat drones.
Most of the Ukrainian regions were affected by the attacks, the air force announced. According to the report, the air defense intercepted 45 missiles and 266 drones. “Enemy air strikes were reported in 22 locations, and debris from downed missiles and drones fell in 15 locations,” the air force explained. In the capital region, at least four people were killed and 16 others injured in the “massive nighttime attacks”, according to the emergency services. Three children were among the injured.
The authorities had reported an attack with “dozens of drones” on Kiev in the early morning and warned of a possible subsequent missile attack. Mayor Vitali Klitschko ordered the population to stay in their shelters. Journalists from the AFP news agency heard explosions. According to rescue workers, three minors aged eight, twelve and 17 were killed in the Zhytomyr region in north-western Ukraine. Ten other people were injured in the attack.
The deputy head of the military administration of the Khmelnytskyi region west of Kiev reported four deaths. "Last night, the Khmelnytskyi region was hit by hostile Russian attacks in which civilian infrastructure was destroyed. Unfortunately, four people were killed," explained Serhiy Tyurin on the online service Telegram, adding that five people were injured. Night-time attacks were also reported from the southern Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Mikolayiv. In Mikolayiv, a man was killed in a drone attack on a residential building, according to rescue services.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi reiterated his call for increased pressure on the Kremlin. “Without really strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped”, he explained in online services. “Sanctions will certainly help,” he added. Selensky called on the USA and European allies to show “determination” to get Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin to “end the war”.
There had already been a “combined” attack of drones and missiles on Kiev on Saturday night. According to Ukrainian reports, Russia attacked with 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles. The Ukrainian air force stated that it had intercepted 245 drones and six missiles. At least 15 people were injured in Kiev alone. Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that around a dozen Ukrainian drones had been intercepted over the Russian capital on Sunday night.
According to the Russian civil aviation authority, air traffic was temporarily suspended at four airports. Moscow's largest airport, Sheremetyevo, was also affected. The restrictions were lifted again on Sunday morning. The Russian army declared that it had intercepted 110 Ukrainian drones across the country during the night.
The latest attacks took place against the backdrop of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war just over three years ago. On Friday, both sides returned 390 prisoners each, while 307 prisoners were released on Saturday. The exchange is to be completed on Sunday. During the first direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in three years, it was agreed last week in Istanbul that both countries would each hand over a total of 1000 prisoners to the other side.
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