At least 12 killed in massive Russian drone-and-missile attack on Ukraine

A massive Russian drone-and-missile barrage struck Ukraine for a second consecutive night, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens more, Ukrainian officials announced on May 25.

According to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, the attack was the largest single aerial assault since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, involving a staggering 367 drones and missiles, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

The bombardment came on the third day of a major prisoner exchange between the two countries — the only concrete outcome from recent peace talks held in Istanbul. Those talks have yet to yield a ceasefire agreement.

Explosions were heard throughout the night in Kyiv and surrounding areas as Ukrainian air defence units worked for hours to intercept incoming drones and missiles. Ukraine’s security service said at least four people were killed and 16 injured in the capital overnight into Sunday. Fires broke out in residential and commercial areas, sparked by falling debris.

“A difficult Sunday []May 25] morning in Ukraine after a sleepless night. The most massive Russian air attack in many weeks lasted all night,” Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on social media platform X.

Elsewhere, three children aged eight, 12, and 17 were killed in the Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv. Twelve others were injured. Four more people were killed in Khmelnytskyi region, while a man died in the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a drone strike ignited a fire in a student dormitory in the city’s Holosiivskyi district. In Dniprovskyi district, a private home was destroyed, and residential buildings in Shevchenkivskyi district were also damaged.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its air defense systems had intercepted 110 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, the third and final phase of a planned three-day prisoner exchange is expected to proceed later today, May 25.

On May 24, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed that 307 soldiers were returned by each side, following the release of 390 combatants and civilians on May 23.

Once completed, the deal will mark the largest prisoner swap since the war began more than three years ago. “We expect more to come tomorrow,” President Zelensky said on his Telegram channel. Russia’s Defence Ministry echoed that expectation, though it offered no additional details.

The Istanbul talks — the first in-person negotiations between the two sides since 2022 — resulted in an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. No progress was made toward broader peace terms.

By Khagan Isayev