In a diplomatic breakthrough, Ukraine secured the release of 303 prisoners of war—part of an effort to return over 1,000 captives home. The moment, filled with raw emotion and national pride, symbolized what Ukraine continues to fight for: life, liberty, and the return of its people.
But Russia answered not with diplomacy, but destruction. Hours after the exchange, Moscow launched its largest airstrike since the war’s start, deploying 367 missiles and drones in a coordinated attack that devastated civilian areas.
The stark contrast between the joy of returned loved ones and the horror of renewed bombardment underscores the war’s brutal cycle. Despite Ukraine’s moral and humanitarian gains, the Kremlin’s relentless military strategy shows no signs of relenting—leaving Ukraine and its allies with pressing questions about global response.