Ukraine, exchange of 307 prisoners with Russia. Zelensky: '697 returned. We are also counting on tomorrow"
Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire shoots down six devices out of a total of 14 launched. Zelensky: 'New sanctions on Moscow'
2' min read
2' min read
Russia has announced that the second prisoner exchange, 307 on each side, with Ukraine has taken place. The exchange marks the second phase of a record prisoner exchange between Kiev and Moscow. "On 24 May, in accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements concluded on 16 May in Istanbul, another 307 Russian servicemen were repatriated" from Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a note, adding that these servicemen are currently in Belarus, where they are receiving "medical and psychological assistance".
It is the second phase of a record prisoner exchange. "Today is the second day of the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange agreed in Turkey. In just two days, 697 people have already been repatriated. We expect a continuation tomorrow as well,' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
The latest series of Russian air strikes against Ukraine has killed at least 13 people and injured 56 civilians across the country. This was reported by Kiev sources, according to the BBC. 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles were launched in the capital alone, most of them intercepted, injuring at least 14 people and setting residential buildings on fire.
The Ukrainian Air Defence Forces shot down a total of six Russian Iskander-M/Kn-23 ballistic missiles directed at Kiev overnight out of 14 launched in total and neutralised 245 out of 250 drones launched. "From 20:30 on Friday, the Russians attacked Ukraine with 14 Iskander-M/Kn-23 ballistic missiles launched from the areas of Taganrog, Yeysk, Bryansk and the temporarily occupied Crimea, targeting the Ukrainian regions of Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa and Zaporizhzhia. Also during the night, the enemy attacked with 250 Shahed attack drones and some decoys,' the press release reads.
"As of 8:30 a.m. today, air defences had shot down six Iskander-M/Kn-23 missiles headed for Kiev and neutralised 245 drones in eastern, northern, southern and central Ukraine. Of these, 128 were shot down by firearms, 117 neutralised by electronic warfare countermeasures, without consequences'.
