FLASH
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The Ukrainian capital, Kiev, faced relentless drone and missile attacks from Russia overnight and early Saturday morning, in which at least 15 people were injured, Ukrainian officials said.
Explosions and gunshots were heard across Kiev, forcing many people to seek shelter in metro stations.
The attack occurred just hours after Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange.
The exchange - involving hundreds of soldiers and civilians - was the first of several to be carried out under a mutual exchange agreement that was reached at a meeting in Istanbul last week.
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 14 ballistic missiles and 250 Shahed drones, according to officials.
Officials said Ukrainian forces shot down 6 missiles and 245 drones during the attack.
The Kyiv City Military Administration stressed that this was one of the largest combined missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
"A difficult night for all of us," the administration's statement said.
Air raid sirens in Kiev blared continuously for more than seven hours, warning of attacks as missiles and drones approached the capital.
Kiev Mayor Vitalii Klitschko warned residents before the attack that over 20 Russian drones were approaching the city.
On Friday night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 390 prisoners from each side had been exchanged and that the exchange was expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday.
"We are returning our people home," Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.
"The first part of the agreement to exchange 1,000 people for 1,000 people has been implemented," he said.
The exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side would constitute the largest prisoner exchange since the beginning of Russia's full-scale occupation of Ukraine.
Previous exchanges have not brought significant progress towards ending the war, which began in February 2022./ REL
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