Overnight strikes by Russian forces in Ukraine resulted in at least nine fatalities, as confirmed by officials on Sunday. These attacks coincided with an ongoing major prisoner swap between Kyiv and Moscow. The Khmelnytskyi region in the west reported four deaths, while the Kyiv region, targeted for the second consecutive night, also reported four deaths. Additionally, one person was killed in Mykolaiv, located in southern Ukraine.

Sergiy Tyurin, the deputy head of the Khmelnytskyi regional military administration, announced via Telegram the destruction of civilian infrastructure due to hostile Russian fire, expressing regret over the four deaths and five injuries in the region. Emergency services reported four fatalities and 16 injuries, including three children, in the Kyiv region due to a "massive night attack." In Mykolaiv, a residential building was struck by a drone, resulting in one death, according to emergency services.

Conversely, Russian authorities claimed to have downed a dozen drones approaching Moscow. These events occurred amidst the largest prisoner swap between the two nations since the commencement of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

AFP journalists reported hearing explosions in the Ukrainian capital, with Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, cautioning of a difficult night. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the capital was "under attack" but noted that "air defenses are operating." Tkachenko stated that "more than a dozen enemy drones" were detected in the airspace around the capital, noting that some drones had been intercepted, but new ones were still entering. Debris from the attacks reportedly fell on a five-story residential building. Kherson region also reported overnight attacks. In response, restrictions were placed on at least four airports in Moscow, including Sheremetyevo, according to the Russian civilian aviation authority. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that 12 drones flying towards the Russian capital were intercepted.

These renewed attacks followed a report from Ukraine's air force on Saturday morning that Russia had launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones overnight, resulting in 15 injuries. The Russian military claimed that Ukraine had targeted it with 788 drones and missiles since the preceding Tuesday. Numerous drones targeting Moscow have been shot down in the past week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that the Russian attacks indicated Moscow's intent to prolong the war, reiterating his call for increased sanctions. He also expressed expectations for the continuation of the prisoner swap agreed upon during recent talks in Istanbul. On Saturday, an exchange took place involving 307 Russian prisoners of war for the same number of Ukrainian soldiers, as announced by both Kyiv and Moscow. An initial exchange on Friday involved 390 people from each side, with expectations to exchange 1,000 each in total. Russia has indicated it will present Ukraine with its terms for a peace settlement following the exchange, without specifying the details.

Although regular prisoner swaps have occurred, this exchange is unprecedented in scale. An AFP reporter witnessed formerly captive Ukrainian soldiers arriving at a hospital in the Chernigiv region, appearing emaciated but expressing joy. Konstantin Steblev, a 31-year-old soldier, shared his overwhelming emotions after being released following three years in captivity. Former US President Donald Trump congratulated both countries on the swap, speculating on its potential significance.

Viktor Syvak, a 58-year-old former captive, described his emotional homecoming after being held for 37 months and 12 days following his capture in Mariupol. Thousands of POWs remain in captivity on both sides, with Russia believed to hold a larger number, estimated between 8,000 and 10,000 Ukrainian captives. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have intensified recently, but the Kremlin has not indicated any change in its demands for ending the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin has resisted European pressure for a full truce, continuing the offensive despite the significant casualties.

In a related event, a massive Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv on Saturday injured at least 15 people, even as Russia and Ukraine continued the biggest prisoner swap since the start of Moscow's invasion. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 attack drones overnight, adding that it downed six missiles and 245 drones. Kyiv was "the main target of the enemy attack", the air force said in a statement. "With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X. "Only additional sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy will force Moscow to cease fire," he said. Kyiv city officials reported fires and fallen debris in several parts of the Ukrainian capital, after AFP journalists heard explosions overnight. Officials said 15 people were injured in Kyiv itself and five civilians were killed by Russian strikes in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.