Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv to demand the release of prisoners of war held in Russia. A few hours earlier, a Russian attack on the capital left at least 3 dead.
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Thousands of people gathered on Maidan Square in Kyiv to demand the Ukrainian government do more to secure the release of prisoners of war held in Russia
These gatherings take place regularly in Ukraine to get answers about the fate of those who disappeared during the war. Many demonstrators believe that the government does not support families and loved ones enough.
The demonstration began with a minute of silence, followed by the Ukrainian national anthem, played by the orchestra of the guard of honor of the presidential brigade of hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
“We came here so as not to be forgotten, so that people would be interested in us, so that when they return, they will see that they have not been forgotten here”said Yulia, the wife of a missing soldier.
Protesters have expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of communication and clarity from the government regarding the fate of loved ones who went missing while battling Russia’s massive invasion.
“It is silence, silence all around. My brothers, no one says anything, just as the commandment is silent”complained the wife of another missing soldier, Tetiana.
-Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners of war since the early days of the war. The last one took place on January 15, and involved 50 prisoners.
Ukraine has not made public the number of prisoners of war currently held by Russia, but the number is estimated at more than 8,000. In April, Kyiv said it estimated the total number to be nearly 37,000. of missing Ukrainians, whether combatants or civilians, but officials said it was difficult to calculate the exact number and the figure could be much higher.
Kyiv attacked
At least three people were killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on kyiv in the early hours of Saturday morning. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 39 Shahed drones, other simulator drones and four ballistic missiles at the capital.
Ukrainian air defense forces shot down two missiles and 24 drones. Fourteen other drone simulators were lost on site, according to the statement. The kyiv city military administration said three people were also injured in the attack.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement that the victims included a security guard of a food establishment and people who were in a minibus on the street. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko says windows were broken in the city’s Shevchenkivskyi district and there was smoke at the entrance to a residential building.
The attack also destroyed a water supply station and a metro station. In a post on X, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said cleanup operations in Kyiv continued throughout the day and only ended in the evening.
