Russia launched what Ukrainian sources described as the most massive attack on Kyiv, firing 322 drones and missiles overnight with Ukrainian forces intercepting 284. The bombardment killed at least one woman and damaged the historic Sofia Cathedral alongside Odesa's maternity hospital and film studio. Six people were injured in Kyiv alone, with debris falling across seven districts.
By afternoon, the second stage of the Istanbul prisoner agreement materialized as Ukraine and Russia exchanged wounded prisoners of war, including gravely injured Mariupol defenders from 2022. The SBU released exclusive footage documenting the swap process.
Pentagon chief announced reduced weapons supply budgets for Ukraine in 2026, while Zelensky revealed some Western partners demand mobilizing 18-year-olds as a condition for additional Russian sanctions. Evening brought fresh strikes on Kharkiv, killing one and injuring others as 15 apartments caught fire.