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Russia Launches Devastating Nationwide Strikes on Ukraine After Major Prisoner Exchange

Russia unleashed one of its most intense aerial assaults on Ukraine overnight Saturday into Sunday, targeting cities and infrastructure across the country despite the recent completion of the war’s largest prisoner exchange, now in its third year.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian forces launched a staggering 367 aerial weapons, including nine Iskander ballistic missiles, 56 cruise missiles, four guided air missiles, and 298 attack drones. In a post on Telegram, the Air Force reported successfully downing 45 cruise missiles and 266 drones.

“Most regions of Ukraine were affected by the enemy attack,” the statement said. Confirmed impacts or interceptions were recorded in 22 locations, including Kyiv, and downed projectiles were reported in 15 more.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry reported at least 18 fatalities, including three children from the same family, and 85 injuries. The strikes caused extensive damage, affecting more than 80 residential buildings and sparking at least 27 fires.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault as a “deliberate strike on ordinary cities” and noted that university dormitories and industrial sites were among the targets. “Tragically, people were killed, including children,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media early Sunday. “Today, rescuers have been working in more than 30 Ukrainian cities and villages following Russia’s massive strike.”

Poland, a NATO member bordering Ukraine, reported scrambling fighter jets during the attack due to what its Armed Forces Operational Command described as “intensive activity of long-range aviation of the Russian Federation” targeting western Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes were precision attacks on Ukraine’s defense industry. According to a post on Telegram, the strikes targeted facilities that allegedly produce missile components, drones, explosives, and satellite communication systems. “All designated targets have been hit,” the ministry claimed.

The barrage follows a recent high-profile prisoner exchange between the two countries, raising international concerns about Russia’s continued escalation despite sporadic diplomatic gestures. The scale and scope of the attack mark one of the most severe aerial campaigns in recent months, deepening the humanitarian crisis and prompting renewed calls for stronger air defense support from Ukraine’s Western allies.

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