Russia and Ukraine exchange 250 prisoners each as Ukrainian forces advance in Kharkiv and Kostyantynivka
Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 250 prisoners on May 15 as part of a larger 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap agreed under the Victory Day ceasefire. Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kharkiv and Kostyantynivka directions, while Russian forces launched six missiles and 141 drones overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia has been reconnoitering decision-making centers in and near Kyiv for possible future strikes.
Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 250 prisoners on May 15 as part of a larger 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap agreed under the Victory Day ceasefire, the Institute for the Study of War reported.
Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kharkiv and Kostyantynivka directions, according to the ISW. Russian forces overnight launched six missiles and 141 drones toward Ukraine. Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil infrastructure in Ryazan Oblast, naval assets in the Republic of Dagestan, and aircraft in Krasnodar Krai.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia has been reconnoitering decision-making centers in and near Kyiv City for possible future strikes. The ISW assessed that sanctions relief for Russia, particularly when coupled with slowing supplies of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, would increase the already significant threat that Russian missile strikes pose to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is positively portraying data about Russia’s economic performance that actually shows a strained economy, the ISW said. A Russian state-owned polling institution recently began door-to-door surveys and recorded slightly higher approval and trust ratings for Putin after falling for weeks.