The ongoing conflict escalates as both nations engage in prisoner exchanges amidst the violence.
**New Wave of Russian Airstrikes Devastate Ukraine, Leaving 13 Dead**
**New Wave of Russian Airstrikes Devastate Ukraine, Leaving 13 Dead**
A recent surge of Russian aerial assaults results in fatalities and extensive damage across Ukraine.
In a vicious escalation of hostilities, Russian airstrikes across Ukraine have claimed the lives of at least 13 individuals and left 56 others injured since Friday, as reported by local authorities. The attacks included the deployment of 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv, which has seen some of the most intense bombardments since the onset of the conflict. Ukraine's air force reported successfully intercepting six missiles along with 245 drones, but the damage inflicted was substantial, resulting in residential fires and casualties across multiple regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, asserting that they reveal Russia's intent to prolong the war. He remarked on social media, "With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow." The assault inflicted direct damage on civilian infrastructure, including two schools and a clinic, with further destruction reported in Kyiv where homes and vehicles were severely impacted.
In the eastern Donetsk region, four fatalities were confirmed, alongside five in the southern regions of Odesa and Kherson, and four more in northeast Kharkiv. Additional strikes targeted Odesa’s port facilities, further complicating Ukraine's maritime operations. The barrage led to the evacuation of over 100 individuals, including 13 minors, from frontline regions, showcasing the humanitarian toll of ongoing military confrontations.
Zelensky emphasized that until rigorous sanctions against key Russian sectors are implemented, prospects of a ceasefire remain bleak. Meanwhile, amidst this turmoil, Ukraine and Russia engaged in significant prisoner exchanges, with Zelensky announcing the return of 307 Ukrainian captives as part of a broader agreement discussed in Turkey. In the largest exchange since the onset of the war in February 2022, both nations transferred 390 soldiers and civilians each, with plans for further exchanges on the horizon.
U.S. President Donald Trump, amidst continued promises to pave the way for peace, hinted at potential developments stemming from the recent exchange. Trump's recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, have yet to yield concrete commitments towards a ceasefire, with Putin indicating a willingness to draft a future peace memorandum but not addressing immediate truce demands.
As the conflict intensifies with no resolution in sight, the humanitarian crisis deepens, leaving many Ukrainians to lament the ongoing violence and hope for an end to hostilities.
