Kyiv Rocked by Massive Overnight Missile and Drone Attack Amid Largest Prisoner Swap of the War

KYIV, Ukraine — A sweeping Russian aerial assault jolted the Ukrainian capital overnight into early Saturday, leaving at least 15 civilians injured and widespread damage across Kyiv. The attack—one of the largest on the city to date—involved a barrage of drones and ballistic missiles that triggered hours-long air raid alerts and sent residents scrambling for shelter.

Explosions, gunfire, and the wail of sirens echoed across the city as more than 250 Iranian-made Shahed drones and 14 ballistic missiles were launched toward Ukraine, according to military officials. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept six missiles and neutralize 245 drones—128 shot down and 117 disabled by electronic warfare systems.

The Kyiv City Military Administration described the assault as “one of the most massive combined attacks” on the capital since the war began. “A difficult night for all of us,” the administration said.

Debris Rains Across City Districts

The remains of downed drones and missiles were scattered across at least six districts in Kyiv. The hardest-hit area, Obolon, saw significant damage to a residential building and at least five people wounded. Fires broke out in the Solomianskyi district, and six people in total required medical care, according to Tymur Tkachenko, acting head of Kyiv’s military administration.

In Obolon, local resident Yurii Bondarchuk recalled the panic: “The sirens went off like usual, then the drones buzzed above us. Moments later, there was a blast—the balcony and windows just exploded.” Bondarchuk was left standing in the dark, smoking a cigarette as emergency crews fought flames engulfing his home.

Kyiv’s mayor, Vitalii Klitschko, had earlier warned residents of an incoming wave of more than 20 strike drones. As the attack unfolded, he confirmed debris had struck a shopping center and residential buildings. Emergency teams were quickly deployed to the affected areas.

Largest Prisoner Swap Offers Glimmer of Cooperation

The attack came just hours after Ukraine and Russia initiated the first phase of a long-negotiated prisoner exchange deal—an unusual moment of cooperation in a war that has now raged for over three years.

The initial phase saw 390 Ukrainians and 390 Russians returned to their respective countries, marking the largest swap of the war to date. The exchange took place at the Belarusian border under a deal reached during last week’s meeting in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed further releases were expected over the weekend.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated its returnees were transferred to Belarus for medical treatment.

Ceasefire Still Elusive

Despite the symbolic progress of the prisoner deal, active combat continues along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front. Moscow and Kyiv remain locked in high-intensity warfare, with neither side showing signs of retreat.

The Istanbul meeting was touted by Turkish officials as a step toward rebuilding trust. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called the swap a “confidence-building measure,” though future negotiations remain uncertain. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said no venue has yet been agreed upon for a follow-up round of talks.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that Moscow would soon present Ukraine with a draft proposal for a “sustainable, long-term, comprehensive” peace agreement—pending the conclusion of the ongoing prisoner exchange.

However, European leaders remain skeptical, accusing President Vladimir Putin of using diplomatic delay tactics while intensifying military offensives. Western-backed Ukraine continues to call for a temporary ceasefire as a prerequisite to any formal peace discussions.

In the days leading up to the attack, Russia claimed it had intercepted 788 Ukrainian drones between May 20 and May 23. Ukraine’s air force reported Russia launched 175 Shahed and decoy drones, alongside additional ballistic missile strikes, beginning Thursday night.