In one of its deadliest overnight assaults in months, Russia launched a series of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, resulting in at least 12 fatalities, including three children, and injuring dozens more. The attacks targeted key areas, including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Mykolaiv, occurring just after a significant prisoner exchange wherein Kyiv and Moscow swapped more than 1,000 soldiers and civilians.
In Zhytomyr, three children aged 8, 12, and 17 were killed when drones struck residential neighborhoods, while four additional casualties were reported in the Kyiv region, where multiple homes were set ablaze. A 70-year-old man lost his life in Mykolaiv due to a drone strike on a five-story apartment building, as reported by local officials.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on X that nearly 300 attack drones and almost 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, were deployed during the overnight assault. These attacks came despite a recent diplomatic breakthrough, as both sides began the largest prisoner exchange since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
U.S. President Donald Trump praised the prisoner swap on Truth Social, stating, “Congratulations to both sides on this negotiation. This could lead to something big???”—even though the exchange had not yet started when he made his comments. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov thanked Trump for his involvement, as Ukraine continues to engage the U.S. president in efforts to broker peace.
In a two-hour call last week, Trump and Putin discussed a proposed 30-day ceasefire, with Trump describing the talks as “very successful.” However, Putin has thus far only agreed to explore a nonbinding “memorandum” outlining potential peace terms.
Zelenskyy condemned the overnight strikes and urged international allies to intensify pressure on Moscow to end the conflict, stating, “Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day.” He emphasized that “the world may go on a weekend break, but the war continues, regardless of weekends and weekdays.” Zelenskyy asserted that determination from the U.S. and European nations is crucial, insisting that without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped.
As the conflict continues, the need for a unified international response remains critical in pursuit of lasting peace.
