The conflict between Ukraine and Russia Kills five during Prisoner Exchange

By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda Updated at 1918 EAT on Saturday 7 June 2025

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with recent attacks resulting in at least five deaths and over 20 injuries. A planned prisoner swap between the two nations seems uncertain due to conflicting signals from Moscow and Kyiv.

Despite the challenges, prisoner exchanges have occurred in the past, facilitated by mediators like the United Arab Emirates. In fact, the UAE has helped negotiate 15 prisoner swaps since early 2024, freeing over 4,100 captives. Notably, a significant exchange on April 19, 2025, involved 538 prisoners, including 246 Ukrainians and 246 Russians, as well as wounded soldiers from both sides.

More recently, Russia and Ukraine exchanged 300 prisoners of war, with 150 soldiers returned to each side. These exchanges demonstrate that even amidst conflict, there are efforts towards cooperation and repatriation of captives.

The situation remains dire, with ongoing attacks and casualties.

The uncertainty surrounding the prisoner swap adds to the complexity of the conflict, highlighting the need for continued diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched a massive attack with 215 missiles and drones overnight. Thankfully, Ukraine’s air defenses were able to shoot down and neutralize 87 drones and 7 missiles. The eastern city of Kharkiv was among the targets, and other areas hit included.

Tragic news from Kharkiv! At least 3 people were killed and 17 wounded, including 2 children, in a massive Russian assault described as the most powerful since the 2022 invasion.

Kharkiv attack: 48 drones, 2 missiles, and 4 guided bombs hit the city, killing 3 and wounding 17, including 2 children.

The situation in Kharkiv is dire. Drones are still circling above, air raid sirens are blaring, and residential areas and infrastructure have been heavily damaged.

The attacks in Ukraine continue to cause devastation. In Kherson, a couple lost their lives due to Russian shelling, which also damaged residential buildings, according to regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Meanwhile, in Dnipro, two women aged 45 and 88 were injured in separate attacks.

It’s worth noting that the UN Commission has reported widespread and systematic drone attacks by Russian forces in Kherson Province, targeting civilians along the right bank of the Dnipro River since July 2024.

These attacks have resulted in numerous casualties and injuries, highlighting the dire situation in the region.

Russia’s aerial bombardment across Ukraine on Friday killed at least six people, with dozens more wounded. However, the death toll has risen to seven after rescue workers in Lutsk recovered another body on Saturday.

According to reports, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks, targeting six regions of Ukraine in a nighttime assault that lasted for hours.

The attack’s impact was felt across various regions, with one report mentioning that three emergency responders were killed in the capital Kyiv, and another person was killed in a northwestern city. The situation remains dire, with rescue efforts ongoing.

Moscow said Friday’s assault was carried out in response to Ukrainian “terrorist acts” against Russia, saying military sites were targeted.

Ukraine’s push for a 30-day ceasefire faces resistance from Moscow, which views the war as a matter of national survival. Despite this, Ukraine presented its latest proposal during talks in Istanbul. It’s not clear if these talks were part of a new initiative or a continuation of previous discussions.

In May, Ukraine and Russia had talks in Istanbul, but they didn’t reach an agreement on a ceasefire. Ukraine is now rallying support from its Western allies to pressure Russia into negotiations. The situation remains complex, with both sides holding different views on how to proceed.

Putin’s demands for Ukraine’s surrender include withdrawing from four partially occupied regions, abandoning NATO ambitions, and halting Western military cooperation.

However, these regions aren’t fully under Russian control, making Putin’s demands unrealistic. For instance, Ukraine would have to cede control of the city of Zaporizhzhia, which has a population of around 730,000 people, despite it not being fully occupied.

Unsurprisingly, Ukraine has rejected these terms as unacceptable. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instead proposed a three-way summit with Putin and a world leader, specifically mentioning former US President Donald Trump. This move highlights Ukraine’s efforts to find alternative solutions to the conflict.

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