Russia and Ukraine have conducted a prisoner exchange, with Russia releasing 307 Ukrainian prisoners of war in exchange for the same number of Russian servicemen. The exchange took place on the Ukrainian border with Belarus, marking one of the largest prisoner swaps since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Both sides have agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners, but the ongoing aerial attacks and ground fighting show no signs of stopping.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the country had a “difficult night” with Russia launching dozens of attack drones and ballistic missiles at Kyiv, resulting in at least 15 injuries and significant damage to apartment buildings and a shopping mall. Zelenskyy believes this should convince the world that “the reason for the war being dragged out is in Moscow”. He emphasized the need for increased pressure on Russia through sanctions to initiate real diplomacy.
Calls for Sanctions and Peace Talks
The Group of Seven nations has threatened to impose further sanctions on Russia if it fails to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed this sentiment, stating that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process. Sybiha expressed disappointment that recent talks in Istanbul only led to an agreement on prisoner exchange, with no “peace memorandum” forthcoming from Russia.
Instead of working towards peace, Sybiha said Russia continues to send “deadly drones and missiles at civilians”. Al Jazeera’s John Hendren reported that Zelenskyy was disappointed by the lack of additional US sanctions against Russia, while Europe has agreed to new sanctions, though their effectiveness remains uncertain.
Ongoing Conflict and Casualties
The conflict continues to claim lives, with four Ukrainians killed and several others injured in the Kharkiv region over the past 24 hours due to multiple Russian attacks. Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported that at least 100 Ukrainian drones attempted to strike Russian targets overnight, with dozens of projectiles downed over various regions.
In light of these developments, the international community remains focused on finding a resolution to the conflict, with diplomatic efforts ongoing to bring about a ceasefire and peace talks.