The Russian invasion of Ukraine began 914 days ago. President Andrzej Duda visited Kyiv. The Ukrainian head of state reported the first successful use of a new weapon against Russia – the Palianytsia missile. The parties to the conflict also exchanged prisoners that day. 115 servicemen returned to each country. Washington announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $125 million, including missiles for air defense systems. Here's what happened in and around Ukraine over the past 24 hours.
> Military intelligence in Kiev reported drone attack on ammunition depot in Ostorozhsk in the Voronezh region of Russia. Artillery and tank shells, ammunition and surface-to-air missiles were stored at the military facility, the intelligence reported, adding that there were more than five thousand tons of ammunition in total.
Attack on ammunition depot in Voronezh region. Ukrainians publish recording Military Intelligence of Ukraine/Telegram
> Soldiers of the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law in this regard. – Everyone who feels life and independence as we, Ukrainians, who fights with us, with Ukrainians, deserves to be among the citizens of Ukraine – the president emphasized.
> Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war. 115 soldiers who were captured in Kursk region have returned to Russia. The Moscow Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the released Russian soldiers are in the territory Belaruswhere they are “provided with the necessary psychological and medical assistance, as well as the possibility of contact with their loved ones”. The statement indicates that the negotiations regarding the exchange were attended by United Arab Emirates. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 115 released Ukrainian soldiers have returned to Ukraine.
Ukrainian prisoners of war releasedt.me/V_Zelenskiy_official
Russian prisoners released. Moscow's Defense Ministry releases recording Russian Defense Ministry/Telegram
> On Saturday – the day of the celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the adoption of the Ukrainian Independence Act – President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kiev. He said that it was a “great honor” for him to be in Kiev today once again and “celebrate Ukraine's independence day together with the heroic Ukrainian nation.” – Poland has been with you and with you since the very beginning of Russian aggression – he emphasized.
Andrzej Duda, Volodymyr Zelensky and Ingrida ShimonyteGrzegorz Jakubowski/KPRP
> Ukraine successfully for the first time used the Palianyca missile – informed Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized that this is a weapon of “a completely new class”. – This is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor. The enemy was hit. I thank everyone who made it possible – he announced. As he stated, the new weapon was used on Saturday, but he did not reveal any details. He only mentioned that “it will be very difficult for Russia to say what exactly flew in”.
Zelensky on the new weapon: it is a drone missile with a longer range and stronger impact Reuters
> At least five civilians were killed and five wounded in a Russian attack on Konstantynovka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, regional military chief Vadym Filashkin said on Saturday. Another civilian was killed in the same region in the afternoon. It happened in the village of Kotlyne near Pokrovsk, Filashkin said on Telegram.
> Administration USA announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $125 million. The latest package includes additional missiles for air defense systems and HIMARS launchers, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and other weapons of this type, anti-drone and electronic warfare systems, 105 and 155 mm artillery ammunition, as well as armored vehicles, among other things. The package was formally announced on Friday, the day before Ukraine's Independence Day.
Main image source: HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA/PAP