A resident stands amidst the wreckage of his apartment in a five-storey residential building that was severely damaged by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Saturday. This scene is emblematic of the chaos that unfolded during one of the most significant assaults on the Ukrainian capital since the onset of the conflict over three years ago. The attack, which was both relentless and devastating, left 15 individuals injured and sent shockwaves through the city.

The assault was characterized by a coordinated barrage of attacks, with Russian forces launching an astonishing 14 ballistic missiles and a staggering 250 drones in the early hours of Saturday morning. Despite the scale of the offensive, Ukrainian air defense forces demonstrated their resilience by successfully shooting down six missiles and intercepting a majority of the drones before they could reach civilian areas in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the night as “difficult for all of Ukraine,” urging the international community to impose stricter sanctions on Russia as a means to foster a ceasefire. His call for action reflects the urgent need for diplomatic measures to quell the ongoing violence.

This latest wave of aggression occurred just hours after Russia and Ukraine commenced a prisoner exchange involving hundreds of soldiers and civilians. This exchange marked the initial phase of a tentative agreement reached in Istanbul earlier in the week, sparking hopes for a possible path towards a long-term ceasefire between the two nations.

As the attacks continued, many residents sought refuge in Kyiv’s subway stations, which have become makeshift shelters amidst the chaos. The debris from missiles and bombs that evaded interception caused extensive damage across six districts of the city, with thick plumes of smoke rising from the sites of impact.

Particularly hard-hit was the Obolon district, where at least five individuals sustained injuries and a residential building suffered severe structural damage. The air raid alert persisted for over seven hours, underscoring the intensity and frequency of the drone and missile strikes targeting the capital.

The strikes were a response to recent Ukrainian drone operations aimed at Russian territories, including Moscow itself; this prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to promise retaliation. The ongoing cycle of violence is further complicated by sentiments from local residents like Olha Chyrukha, a 64-year-old Kyiv resident, who stood outside a damaged building lamenting, “I wish they’d agree to a ceasefire.” Many residents expressed similar concerns, revealing that their homes have become uninhabitable due to the attacks.

The prisoner swap, which aims to facilitate the release of 1,000 prisoners from each side, was seen as a potential stepping stone towards a more permanent ceasefire agreement. On Friday, 390 Ukrainians were successfully brought back home, with expectations of additional releases over the weekend.

However, the outlook for achieving a ceasefire appears bleak at this juncture. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that a location for the next round of talks remains undetermined. Lavrov mentioned that Moscow would present Ukraine with a draft outlining its conditions for a truce once the prisoner exchange concludes.

Amidst this backdrop of violence and diplomatic maneuvering, international calls for an end to the war have intensified in recent months. U.S. President Donald Trump has identified the cessation of hostilities as a pivotal goal of his administration’s foreign policy, urging both Ukraine and Russia to engage in renewed discussions aimed at establishing a peace deal, a request that has been tentatively acknowledged by both parties.

European leaders have voiced accusations against Moscow, asserting that the Kremlin is stalling peace negotiations while simultaneously attempting to seize more Ukrainian territory. In the wake of the recent attacks on Kyiv, President Zelenskiy accused Russia of deliberately undermining peace talks, a sentiment that Moscow has reciprocated towards Ukraine.

“With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow,” Zelenskiy stated in a post on X. “Ukraine has proposed a ceasefire many times... It all has been ignored.” This statement highlights the frustrations faced by Ukraine as it continues to navigate the complexities of conflict and diplomacy.