Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow and Kyiv exchange hundreds of prisoners as Putin’s forces suffer big losses
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the return of 189 POWs as ‘very good news’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ukraine and Russia carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war on Monday, with Kyiv bringing home 189 former captives.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United Arab Emirates and other partners for facilitating the swap.
“The return of our people from Russian captivity is always very good news for each of us. And today is one of such days: our team managed to bring 189 Ukrainians home,” Mr Zelensky said.
It comes as Kyiv’s military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has claimed that Russian forces are “suffering record losses” in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
Vladimir Putin’s troops are attacking along multiple points of the frontline in Donetsk, ultimately advancing towards the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the wider region’s defences. They have taken more than 400 square miles of territory since February this year in that area.
But their advances have come at a severe loss in personnel. “The enemy continues to carry out continuous meaty assaults, suffering record losses,” says Gen. Syrskyi.
Western intelligence estimates suggest that the Russian military’s daily casualties in the area number between 1,000 and 1,2000.
Putin apologises for ‘tragic’ Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash but does not take responsibility
Russia claims it foiled several Ukrainian plots to kill senior officers with disguised bombs
Azerbaijan Airlines crash: was this another military shoot-down of a civil aircraft?
Zelensky urges China to put pressure on North Korea over military aid to Russia
Russia and Ukraine exchange 150 prisoners each in UAE-mediated swap, Moscow says
Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner swap on Monday, with each side freeing 150 prisoners of war, Russia’s Defence Ministry said in a statement.
It said that the Russian captives had been released on Belarusian territory and would be transferred to Russia. The United Arab Emirates had served as a mediator in the swap, the statement added.
If the West gives an inch on Ukraine, Putin will take a mile
If the West gives an inch when it comes to Ukraine, Putin will take a mile
Editorial: If the last 25 years have taught us anything, it is exactly who the Russian president is – and what he is capable of
First Ukrainian aid shipments to Syria to arrive tomorrow, says Zelensky
The first Ukrainian aid package to Syria will arrive in the country tomorrow, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has announced.
The leader said 500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat flour will arrive in Syria tomorrow. “And there will be more deliveries, as well as more mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas,” he added.
The support comes just weeks after a Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the Russian-backed dictator Bashar al-Assad in a stunning offensive earlier this month. Mr al-Assad flew to Moscow upon invitation from the Kremlin, where he now lives in exile, to avoid the advancing HTS.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha recently led a delegation to the Syrian capital of Damascus to speak with the new administration.
“We support the Syrian people in overcoming decades of dictatorial rule and restoring stability, security, and normal life in Syria,” said Mr Zelensky.
Ukraine’s frontline mapped - ISW
Below, you can see the latest updates on the frontline in Ukraine, according to The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank.
Russia ‘suffering record losses’ in Donetsk, claims Ukraine military chief
Russian forces are “suffering record losses” as they carry out constant assaults in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Kyiv’s military chief has claimed.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi says the fighting in that region, where Russian forces are advancing along multiple points, “remains the hottest” of the roughly 650-mile frontline.
“He worked in units and subdivisions conducting a defensive operation in the Donetsk region,” read a statement issued on Gen. Syrskyi’s behalf “These areas remain the hottest. The enemy continues to carry out continuous meaty assaults, suffering record losses.”
US sends final security package to Ukraine under Biden administration
The United States has announced nearly $6 billion (£4.76bn) in additional military and budget assistance for Ukraine as president Joe Biden uses his final weeks in office to surge aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes power.
Biden announced $2.5 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the United States has made available $3.4 billion in additional budget aid to Ukraine, giving the war-torn country critical resources amid intensifying Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
“At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden’s announcement includes $1.25 billion in military aid drawn from US stockpiles and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package, the final USAI package of Biden’s time in office.
Under USAI, military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners, rather than drawn from American stocks, meaning it can take months or years to arrive on the battlefield.
20 per cent of Ukraine’s arable land lost
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the area of arable land available for harvest has decreased 20%, a minister said.
Vitalii Koval, Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, shared this information during a television broadcast.
“We are facing objective factors contributing to rising food prices. For instance, the area of arable land today is 20% smaller than before the war.
“This year, crops were harvested from 19.8 million hectares. Additionally, the price increase for each type of product depends on how integrated Ukraine is into the global market for that particular product,” Koval explained.
Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, the area of arable land available for harvest in Ukraine has decreased by 20%.
Six killed as Russian HQ destroyed in missile strike - Ukraine claims
Footage shows the moment a Russian base is destroyed in a Ukrainian air strike killing six in occupied Zaporizhzhia.
Aerial reconnaissance by the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence force identified the headquarters’ location, according to their post on Facebook.
Working with the Tavria Group of Forces, they carried out a “precise missile strike” on the target.
The operation resulted in the destruction of the headquarters, with six Russian personnel eliminated and three others seriously injured.
Biden announces $2.5bn package for Ukraine
President Joe Biden announced $2.5 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine on Monday as he uses his final weeks in office to surge military aid to Kyiv before Donald Trump takes power.
“At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden’s announcement includes $1.25 billion in military aid drawn from stockpiles and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package, the final USAI package of Biden’s time in office.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments