Russia and Ukraine exchanged 205 prisoners of war on Friday, hours after rescue workers ended their search of a destroyed block of flats in Kyiv in which 24 people were killed, including three girls.
Most of the Ukrainian prisoners had been held since 2022, said President Zelensky. The swap was part of a short-lived ceasefire ending this week, with massive Russian strikes across Ukraine, including a missile attack that turned 18 flats into rubble. Among the victims was 12-year-old Lyubava Yakovleva, whose father had already been killed during the war.
Meanwhile, Russian officials reported that four people, including a child, died when Ukrainian drones targeted the city of Ryazan, southeast of Moscow. Locals witnessed damage to multiple residential blocks, and 28 individuals were reported injured. Ukrainian forces claimed to have struck Ryazan's oil refinery.
Images shared on social media showed significant damage in the affected areas. Ukraine's incident marked a day of mourning, remembering the 24 victims of the missile attack. Many were young, including students from local schools, showcasing the tragic consequences of ongoing conflict.
Among those who perished were two staff members of Nova Poshta and former hockey player Yuriy Orlov. Schools and communities are mourning the heavy toll that warfare imposes, especially on the young lives lost.
As communities continue to reflect on these events, President Zelensky laid flowers at the strike site and condemned Russia’s actions. He emphasized the need for accountability regarding attacks that target civilian areas.
The prisoner exchange was brokered by the US and UAE as part of a deal involving plans to swap 1,000 prisoners. Yet, the violence resumed quickly, overshadowing a brief ceasefire aimed to coincide with commemorative events in Russia.
Ukrainian officials stated that in a recent series of drone assaults, they detected an unprecedented number of Russian drones launched against various targets, reflecting the escalating intensity of the conflict. Despite claims of nearing an end to hostilities from Russian leadership, ongoing military actions suggest a different reality.
