Russia launched 250 long-range drones and 14 ballistic missiles at Kyiv overnight, injuring at least 14 civilians, according to Ukrainian officials. The second phase of a 1,000 for 1,000 Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap is set to take place today after hundreds were released yesterday.
Saturday 24 May 2025 08:25, UK
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Hundreds of long-rage drones and 14 ballistic missiles were launched at Kyiv overnight, leading to debris falling across the city and two fires.
According to Ukrainian officials, at least 14 civilians have been injured, with two needing to be hospitalised.
We’ve been getting some photos of the devastation left in the aftermath of the attacks.
The Kremlin’s attack on Kyiv came hours after Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange, swapping 270 military personnel each, as well as 120 civilians.
More swaps are expected today as part of that deal, which will see a total of 1,000 prisoners exchanged from each side.
Here are some images of some prisoners returning to the Chernyhiv region of Ukraine after yesterday’s exchange:
Russia launched 250 long-range drones and 14 ballistic missiles overnight, with debris from the intercepted missiles injuring at least 14 civilians, according to the Ukrainian officials.
The acting head of the Kyiv military administration added two fires had erupted in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv.
And mayor Vitalii Klitschko said drone debris fell on a shopping mall and a residential building in the Obolon district of the capital.
The combined drone and missile attack led to many residents seeking shelter in the underground subway stations throughout the night.
Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Overnight attacks saw Kyiv come under large-scale Russian drone and missile attack, with Russia launching 250 long-range drones and 14 ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Kyiv officials said the debris of intercepted missiles and drones fell in at least four city districts, injuring at least eight people, two of whom needed hospitalisation.
Meanwhile, more prisoners are expected to be exchanged between Ukraine and Russia today after 270 prisoners and 120 civilians on each side were released yesterday.
It’s part of a deal that is set to involve a total of 1,000 prisoners from each side being released.
We’ll be bringing you up to speed with those stories and all the latest from the battlefield in this live blog.
Thank you for reading.
These are today’s main developments:
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Ukraine has released a short video of the prisoners of war released today.
As we’ve been reporting, Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 270 prisoners and 120 civilians each.
Ukraine’s strategic command centre said all “returned individuals are now receiving medical care and support on Ukrainian territory”.
It added: “This marks one of the largest exchanges in recent months and reinforces Ukraine’s principle: no defender will be forgotten.
“President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine continues to uphold its commitments and will not rest until every captive is brought home.”
Watch the video via the X post below…
A military helicopter has crashed in Russia’s Oryol region, killing the crew, state news agency TASS reported.
It happened near the village of Naryshkino, the agency added, citing Moscow military district headquarters.
The preliminary cause of the crash is said to be a technical malfunction.
There were no civilian casualties, regional governor Andrei Klychkov said on Telegram.
Fire crews were at the scene.
The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office says Russia has been producing a “lot of loud words” but none of them “envisage a ceasefire” and an end to the war.
Andriy Yermak also said Russian threats are “like an old record”.
He added: “It plays the same thing. And the quality is appropriate – boring and somehow Soviet.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the first stage of a “1000-for-1000” prisoner swap has been completed.
“We are bringing our people home,” he said on X.
“Today – 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue.”
As we said in a previous post, both Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 270 prisoners and 120 civilians each.
The Ukrainian leader said “every surname, every detail about each person” is being verified.
“We will continue our diplomatic efforts to make such steps possible.”
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