Ukraine conducted a significant nighttime drone assault targeting over a dozen Russian regions and Crimea, marking what appears to be one of its largest drone attacks since the full-scale invasion began, according to reports from Russia's Ministry of Defense.
Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones, surpassing the previous largest assault of 556 drones on May 17. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that 47 drones heading toward the capital were neutralized.
Prisoner Exchange
Amidst the ongoing hostilities, Russia and Ukraine carried out a substantial prisoner exchange, with officials reporting that 160 individuals from each side were released and are returning home. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the release of 160 servicemen held captive since 2022. He noted that those freed included members of the Armed Forces, State Special Transport Service, National Guard, and border guards, who had defended areas including Mariupol, Azovstal, and sectors in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy.
"We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity," Zelenskyy posted on X. "Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022."
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the team working to bring captives home and to frontline units for replenishing the "exchange fund" through their courage, enabling these returns. He affirmed the commitment to remembering and bringing back all those still in captivity, including both military personnel and civilians.
US Stance on Conflict
Separately, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, speaking from Manama, Bahrain, clarified the U.S. position regarding alleged agreements with Russia concerning Ukraine. He stated that only a proposal, not a full agreement, had been discussed and reiterated the U.S. commitment to playing a constructive role in ending the war. Rubio highlighted the high casualty figures, particularly among Russian soldiers, underscoring the war's severe human cost.