The second part of the record prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kiev ended today , with about 1,000 people expected to return home , including civilians and prisoners for each side. But while many families are celebrating the return of a loved one , there are those who are holding their breath and praying because, with the truce remaining a mirage, bombs continue to reign supreme in Ukraine.

The latest series of Russian raids on various parts of the country has left at least 13 dead and over 50 injured , while Kiev has been hit by a hail of drones and missiles , in one of the most massive attacks on the capital since the beginning of the invasion . Yet another demonstration, according to Volodymyr Zelensky, that the Kremlin does not want peace . Moscow's offensive did not stop even in the days of the prisoner exchange, which is continuing in compliance with the agreement signed between the two sides in Istanbul. Kiev, in the early hours of the fortieth month of war , was awakened by raids in several waves conducted by enemy forces: 14 ballistic missiles and 250 drones in total , the Ukrainian Air Force said, reporting that it had shot down most of the drones and 6 missiles before they reached the city. With the first explosions, residents ran to hide in the subway stations, but the air alert lasted more than 7 hours. The local administration reported several fires and debris from the intercepted devices that fell on buildings in many areas of the city, causing damage in six neighborhoods. And above all, the injury of about fifteen people.

Russian authorities, who had previously threatened retaliation for repeated Ukrainian cross-border raids in recent days , said they had targeted "military-industrial complex enterprises" and "positions of Patriot anti-aircraft systems" delivered by the United States to Ukraine. Zelensky instead stated that "with each bombing the world becomes convinced that the reason for the protracted war lies in Moscow". He then launched a new appeal to the US and Europe to , which will force it to a . The began in the midst of a large-scale prisoner exchange. On the second day, the exchange involved 307 people, for a total of 697 at the moment. Kiev said it expects the exchange to continue tomorrow, with the aim of releasing a thousand prisoners on each side, both military and civilian. The prisoner deal was the only tangible outcome of the first direct talks between Russians and Ukrainians that were hosted by Turkey on May 16, although Donald Trump has said he hopes this step will pave the way for a truce.