Russia launched its largest aerial assault of its three-year war on Ukraine overnight, targeting the capital and other regions with missiles and drones for a second night in a row, even as the two sides prepared to conclude a major prisoner exchange.

The hourslong raids, involving hundreds of drones, were a reminder that any diplomatic resolution to the conflict remains far off.

Russian forces launched its largest aerial attack of the war so far across Ukraine, killing at least 12 people overnight, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday (May 25), just hours before Russia and Ukraine completed the exchange of 1,000 prisoners each, in the largest such swap since the war began three years ago. Diane To reports.