Russian forces unleashed a massive drone barrage against Ukraine overnight, launching 294 unmanned aerial vehicles across the country, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Of those, 269 were intercepted, but 20 drones struck 15 separate locations, causing casualties and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.
In the southern city of Kherson, five high-rise residential buildings and 19 houses were damaged in the attacks. Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that one person was killed and 23 others injured. The strikes also disrupted power supplies in the Odesa region, where 39 settlements lost electricity, affecting more than 22,000 consumers after damage to the region's power infrastructure.
Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, saw key transport infrastructure hit, including a road, two metro stations, the electric tram contact network, a trolleybus, and a public transport stop. In the Sumy region, seven people were injured when an office building, an ambulance, minibuses, and cars were struck. The attacks underscore the relentless pressure on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure as the war enters its fourth year.
Repatriation of Fallen Soldiers
On Saturday, Ukraine announced the return of the bodies of 528 soldiers killed in action, a grim but routine process that has become one of the few areas of cooperation between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine's prisoners of war centre stated on social media: 'As a result of repatriation efforts, the bodies of 528 deceased individuals have been returned to Ukraine; according to the Russian side, they may be Ukrainian servicemen.' Investigators and experts will now work to identify the remains.
The repatriation came a day after the two sides exchanged 205 prisoners of war each, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump of a three-day ceasefire from 9 to 11 May, which also included a pledge to swap 1,000 prisoners from each side. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Friday's exchange was the first phase of that deal.
Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, such exchanges and repatriations have been rare points of contact between the warring parties. The latest swap was mediated by the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the role of third-party states in facilitating humanitarian gestures even as fighting continues.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack reportedly killed one person in the Russian border region of Belgorod, according to local authorities. The attack hit a vehicle in the town of Krasnaya Yaruga, killing a civilian, as stated by regional officials.
The overnight drone barrage is part of a broader pattern of intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure. For more on the impact on civilian areas, see our report on Russian Drone Barrage Hits Kharkiv Residential Area as Attacks Intensify. The prisoner exchange and repatriation efforts continue to be closely watched across Europe, as they offer a rare glimpse of dialogue amid the conflict.
