By Parrot Newspaper 
Deadly Strikes in Ukraine as Russia, Kyiv Trade Blows Amid Mass Prisoner Swap
By Parrot Newspaper – Europe Desk
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated sharply overnight as deadly airstrikes claimed at least nine lives in Ukraine, while Moscow reported intercepting a wave of incoming drones. The violence comes as both nations prepare for a significant prisoner exchange, with around 1,000 detainees expected to be swapped on each side.
Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes pounded Kyiv and the southern Kherson region through the night, triggering widespread alarm. In the capital, debris from downed drones crashed into a five-storey residential building, according to local authorities. “Some of the drones over Kyiv and the surrounding area have already been dealt with. But new ones are still entering the capital,” a Ukrainian official posted on Telegram.
In Kherson, where Ukrainian forces have been bracing for renewed Russian offensives, local reports detailed fresh damage and civilian casualties from the attacks.
Meanwhile, across the border, Russian officials said they had downed at least 12 drones heading for Moscow. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that flight operations at four major airports, including Sheremetyevo, had been restricted as a precaution.
The intensifying air war underscores the fragile and volatile nature of the ongoing conflict, which shows no signs of slowing. On Saturday, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia had unleashed 14 ballistic missiles and some 250 drones overnight, leaving at least 15 people wounded. The Russian military, in turn, claimed that Ukrainian forces had targeted them with nearly 800 drones and missiles since Tuesday.
“This is Russia’s way of prolonging the war,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement, renewing his call for tougher international sanctions against Moscow.
Deadly Strikes in Ukraine
As both countries press forward with preparations for a major prisoner exchange, the renewed surge in attacks suggests that while diplomacy stirs in the background, the battlefield remains firmly in the foreground.