Kyiv Under Attack: Record Prisoner Exchange Offers a Glimmer of Hope

Kyiv Under Fire: A Night of Attacks and a Record Prisoner Exchange Kyiv, Ukraine endured a significant attack on the night of May 23, 2025, when Russian forces launched six ballistic missiles and over 250 drones towards the Ukrainian capital. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of the incoming projectiles, preventing widespread devastation. However, the attack resulted in eight injuries and caused damage to several residential buildings and commercial properties. "The sirens started around 9 pm, and then the attacks began," reported Marion Russell, BFMTV's special envoy in Kyiv. "There was a lot of fear and panic, with many Ukrainians forced to seek shelter in anti-aircraft bunkers." The attack lasted for a significant portion of the night. Despite the destruction and fear, a glimmer of hope emerged the same day with a record-breaking prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Over 1000 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released, marking the largest single exchange since the beginning of the conflict. The event was marked by emotional reunions of families at the exchange point. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences for the victims of the attack and called for increased international cooperation and sanctions against Russia. This large-scale exchange of prisoners offers a powerful symbol of hope amidst the ongoing conflict.