Ukraine launches large-scale drone strike on Russian regions and Crimea
Ukraine deployed hundreds of drones in a nighttime attack on multiple Russian regions and Crimea, while a prisoner exchange returned 160 captives to each side.
Ukraine carried out a nighttime drone operation targeting at least a dozen Russian regions, the Russian-held Crimean peninsula and nearby maritime areas, Russia's defence ministry said on Friday. The ministry reported that Russian air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones, surpassing the previous record of 556 drones recorded in May. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 47 drones were shot down as they approached the capital.
In a separate statement, Ukraine's air force said its forces downed 174 of 189 Russian drones launched overnight, though four Iskander-M ballistic missiles breached defenses and struck unspecified locations.
The same day, officials announced a reciprocal prisoner swap, with 160 individuals from each side released. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that the released Ukrainians included members of the armed forces, special transport service, National Guard and border guards who had been held since 2022.
