'The capitals under attack': Russia, Ukraine exchange drone strikes on Kyiv & Moscow amid prisoner exchange

First Post

25-05-2025

Amid a historic prisoner exchange, Russia unleashed massive drone strikes over Kyiv and other Ukrainian territories. Meanwhile, drone strikes rattled Moscow, indicating the escalation of tensions read more
Emergency workers navigates his colleagues at the site of residential building damaged after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine. File Image / AP
Amid the hopes for peace talks , Russia launched a 'massive' drone missile attack on the Ukrainian capital overnight. Similar strikes were conducted across Ukraine in which at least 12 people, including three children, were killed and dozens injured. The attack took place after the Russian capital Moscow was attacked, indicating that the tensions between the two nations were escalating.
Russian attack on Ukraine continued through the night and well into Sunday, injuring 11 people in the Ukrainian capital. According to Sky News, the Russians also conducted drone strikes in Mykolaiv, where a residential building was hit.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
On Sunday morning, Kyiv's city administration warned that 'the night will be difficult,' urging people to remain in shelters. The city's mayor Vitaliy Klitschko described it as a 'massive' attack. 'Explosions in the city. Air defence forces are working. The capital is under attack by enemy UAVs. Do not neglect your safety! Stay in shelters!' he said in a statement.
Fears of escalation
Before this, at least 15 people were injured in the Russian attack on Friday night. Meanwhile, Russia also claimed that it faced a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday. The Kremlin claimed that it has intercepted and destroyed around 100 drones near Moscow and across Russia's central and southern regions.
The escalations are taking place at a time when both nations are continuing with a prisoner exchange, marking a rare moment of relief in the war. However, following the Saturday strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of prolonging the war and called for sanctions on Russia.
Russia 'fills each day with horror and murder' and is 'simply dragging out the war', he said. 'All of this demands a response - a strong response from the United States, from Europe, and from everyone in the world who wants this war to end,' the Ukrainian president furthered.
Zelenskyy insisted that every single day 'gives new grounds for sanctions against Russia', he said, and each day without pressure proves the 'war will continue'. The Ukrainain leader concluded his statement by stating that his country is ready for 'any form of diplomacy that delivers real results'.