Kiev/Moscow, 24 May 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Russia and Ukraine have continued their largest prisoner exchange to date, releasing a further 307 people each, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.

A total exchange between Moscow and Kiev of 1,000 prisoners each had been agreed upon in the largest such deal to date.

"The large-scale exchange initiated by the Russian side is continuing," the Russian Ministry of Defence announced.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia had also released 307 prisoners.

The previous day, 390 prisoners were freed on each side.

Zelensky said that further releases were expected on Sunday.

The Russian soldiers are currently on the territory of Belarus, where they are receiving the necessary psychological and medical assistance, the ministry in Moscow stated.

"All Russian military personnel will be brought to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation," it added.

Exchange in several stages

Russia and Ukraine had announced several stages of this largest prisoner exchange to date.

"There is no greater joy," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha wrote on the platform X after the first round on Friday. "Such humanitarian confidence-building measures are crucial for our ongoing work to restore peace."

According to the responsible coordination staff in Kiev, three women and 387 men were freed from Russian captivity on Friday. The released soldiers had reportedly defended Ukraine in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Kharkiv and Kherson. All are being medically examined and receiving physical and psychological assistance.

According to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow, 270 prisoners of war and 120 civilians were released from Ukrainian captivity on Friday. Among the civilians were also citizens from areas temporarily controlled by Kiev's troops in the Russian region of Kursk.

The exchange was agreed upon last week during talks in Istanbul. It remained the only concrete result of the first direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations since 2022, which had been particularly urged by US President Donald Trump.

Injuries after Russian drone attack on Kiev

At least 15 people were injured in a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kiev and surrounding areas, officials said on Saturday.

The injuries were caused by falling debris from drones that were intercepted and shot down by air defences, according to local authorities. Eight people were initially reported injured.

"There were many fires and explosions in the city at night," Zelensky posted on social media.

It was a difficult night for Ukraine as a whole, with 250 drone attacks and airstrikes with 14 ballistic missiles, Zelensky added.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko had warned of continued danger as the first wave of drones approached the city. "Stay in shelters!" he urged residents on Telegram.

Teymur Tkachenko, head of the city's military administration, reported that debris had caused fires in residential buildings in two districts. Emergency crews were dispatched to the affected sites, he said.

Kiev calls for greater international pressure on Moscow

Foreign Minister Sybiha posted critical comments on X that Russia had still not delivered the promised "peace memorandum" after the first direct negotiations between Kiev and Moscow since 2022 in Istanbul just over a week ago.

"Instead, Russia is sending deadly drones and missiles at the civilian population," said the minister.

"This is Russia's response to international peace efforts and clear proof that increased sanctions pressure on Moscow is necessary to accelerate the peace process."

Zelensky later urged the United States, European Union and others to step up punitive measures against Russia.

In addition to Kiev, the regions of Odessa, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv were among those affected by the Russian attacks.

Moscow threatened retaliation after Kiev's drone attacks

The Russian Foreign Ministry had previously announced retaliatory strikes in response to what it described as "massive terrorist attacks" by Kiev.

Ukraine had launched drones at Moscow and other Russian regions in recent days as part of its defence against the ongoing Russian invasion of its territory.

The Russian ministry accused Kiev of attacking civilian infrastructure and civilians with the aim of wrecking the resumed peace negotiation process.

Photo: EPA