Sat May 24 01:32:02 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Despite a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine negotiated in Istanbul, Kyiv was targeted by a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack early Saturday, May 24, 2025. Debris from intercepted projectiles fell on multiple city districts, causing fires and requiring medical care for six people. This attack occurred hours after the first phase of the prisoner swap, in which each side exchanged 390 soldiers and civilians. The exchange, the largest of the war so far, provided a moment of hope amidst the ongoing conflict, but the continued fighting along the front line underscores the lack of a ceasefire.

**News Article:**

**Kyiv Under Heavy Attack Hours After Major Prisoner Swap**

**Kyiv, Ukraine – May 24, 2025** – Kyiv was struck by a significant Russian drone and missile attack early Saturday morning, just hours after Russia and Ukraine initiated a large-scale prisoner exchange. Explosions and machine-gun fire reverberated throughout the city, forcing residents to seek refuge in subway stations.

The attack follows a major prisoner swap agreement negotiated last week in Istanbul, with the first phase completed yesterday. In this initial exchange, each side released 390 soldiers and civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the swap, the largest of the war, as a victory, promising further releases over the weekend.

However, the overnight attack on Kyiv underscores the fragile nature of the agreement and the continued intensity of the conflict. According to Tymur Tkachenko, acting head of Kyiv’s military administration, debris from intercepted missiles and drones landed in at least four districts, resulting in fires and injuries. Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that debris had fallen on a shopping mall and a residential building in the Obolon district.

While the prisoner exchange offered a rare glimmer of cooperation, fighting continues along the front lines, highlighting the deep divisions and the ongoing struggle for territory. This latest attack serves as a stark reminder that a ceasefire remains elusive in the three-year-old war.

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