Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap and Kyiv Attack

Russia and Ukraine conducted a major prisoner exchange, swapping hundreds of soldiers and civilians, a rare instance of cooperation amidst ongoing hostilities. This exchange followed an agreement made during peace talks in Istanbul earlier in the month. However, hours after the swap, Russia launched one of its largest combined missile and drone attacks on Ukraine — Kyiv, injuring at least 15 people and causing extensive damage. Similar Russian attacks also killed 13 civilians in other Ukrainian regions. Despite the prisoner exchange, both Russia and Ukraine continue deep strikes along the front lines, and peace talks remain stalled due to significant disagreements on key conditions for ending the fighting. European leaders accuse Vladimir Putin of prolonging the war to gain more Ukrainian territory.