KYIV: Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds more prisoners on Saturday as part of a major swap that amounted to a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire. The exchange came hours after Kyiv came under a largescale Russian drone and missile attack that left at least 15 people injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's defence ministry said each side brought home 307 more soldiers on Saturday, a day after each released a total of 390 combatants and civilians. "We expect more to come tomorrow (Sunday)," Zelenskyy said on his official Telegram channel. Russia's defence ministry also said it expected the exchange to continue, though it did not give details.
Hours earlier, explosions and anti-aircraft fire were heard throughout Kyiv as many sought shelter in subway stations as Russian drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital overnight.
In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month - the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion - Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each.
Officials said Russia attacked Ukraine with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones overnight while Ukrainian forces shot down six missiles and neutralised 245 drones - 128 drones were shot down and 117 were thwarted using electronic warfare.
Separately, 13 civilians were killed on Friday and overnight into Saturday in Russian attacks in Ukraine's south, east and north. Russia said its forces overnight struck various military targets across Ukraine, including missile and drone-producing plants and a reconnaissance centre. ap
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