Ukraine war latest: First pictures of war's largest prisoner swap so far shared by Zelenskyy

Military helicopter crashes in Russia

A military helicopter has crashed in Russia's Oryol region, killing the crew, state news agency TASS reported.

It happened near the village of Naryshkino, the agency added, citing Moscow military district headquarters.

The preliminary cause of the crash is said to be a technical malfunction.

There were no civilian casualties, regional governor Andrei Klychkov said on Telegram.

Fire crews were at the scene.

Russian threats 'like an old record', head of Zelenskyy's office says

The head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office says Russia has been producing a "lot of loud words" but none of them "envisage a ceasefire" and an end to the war.

Andriy Yermak also said Russian threats are "like an old record".

He added: "It plays the same thing. And the quality is appropriate - boring and somehow Soviet."

First pictures of prisoner swap shared by Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the first stage of a "1000-for-1000" prisoner swap has been completed.

"We are bringing our people home," he said on X.

"Today – 390 people. On Saturday and Sunday, we expect the exchange to continue."

As we said in a previous post, both Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 270 prisoners and 120 civilians each.

The Ukrainian leader said "every surname, every detail about each person" is being verified.

"We will continue our diplomatic efforts to make such steps possible."

Putin's Stalin revival hits new level - and Russians are divided

The Moscow metro is a sight to behold.

The gilded interiors of its cavernous stations have the opulence of a baroque palace.

But amid the mosaics and chandeliers, there is a new monument turning heads - a life-sized statue of Joseph Stalin.

The Soviet dictator was responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people, in purges, famines and his infamous gulag labour camps.

But there's no mention of that on the new sculpture at the central Taganskaya station.

Instead, he's depicted as a leader who was loved by his people - a crowd of adoring workers and their children are reaching out towards him in adoration.

It was described as a "gift" to passengers by the capital's metro system to mark its 90th anniversary.

Russia and Ukraine exchange 270 prisoners and 120 civilians each

Russia has handed 270 prisoners of war and 120 civilians back to Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said.

In reply, 270 Russian military personnel and 120 civilians, including some from the Kursk region captured by Ukrainian armed forces, have been returned.

The Russians, both military and civilian, are in Belarus, the ministry added.

Exchanges are expected to continue over the coming days.

The freed Russians will be taken back to Russia for treatment and rehabilitation, the ministry said.

Hopeful families hold banners ahead of prisoner swap

As we have been reporting, a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine is said to be under way.

The Kremlin said yesterday it had handed a list of names to Ukraine, involving 1,000 prisoners from each side.

These photographs, from the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, show prisoners' family members, hoping their loved ones will be part of the swap.

Polish air force intercepted Russian aircraft 'performing dangerous manoeuvres'

Beyond Ukraine, Poland says its air force intercepted a Russian jet last night. 

Wladysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish minister of national defence, said today that the Russian SU-24 aircraft had been "performing dangerous manoeuvres".

He added that the order to intercept the aircraft was issued by the joint operational command for NATO allied forces in Europe.

Polish jets located the aircraft, intercepted it and effectively deterred it, Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

He did not give further details, according to Reuters.

Ukraine cannot hope to regain all lost territory, ambassador to UK says

Ukraine's ambassador to the UK has said Kyiv cannot hope to regain all the territory it has lost to Russia.

Valery Zaluzhnyi, who was head of the Ukrainian armed forces between 2021 and last year, said in a speech his country should not dream of restoring either the borders established after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, or those in place before the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thought to favour a return to the 1991 borders.

Russia occupied Crimea in 2014 and now controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory after its full scale 2022 invasion.

Speaking at a forum in Kyiv, Zaluzhnyi said: "I hope that there are not people in this room who still hope for some kind of miracle or lucky sign that will bring peace to Ukraine, the borders of 1991 or 2022, and that there will be great happiness afterwards."

"My personal opinion is that the enemy still has resources, forces and means to launch strikes on our territory and attempt specific offensive operations."

His speech was published by the Ukrainska Pravda news outlet.

Ukrainians mark Day of Heroes

These photographs, taken at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv in western Ukraine, show people visiting the graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.

They were there on the Day of Heroes - described in Ukrainian media as an unofficial but increasingly recognised moment when people remember those who have lost their lives fighting for independence.

Zelenskyy speaks to leaders about upcoming summit

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been speaking to various counterparts about the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit.

A number of meetings have taken place and the Ukrainian president has been bolstering support for the forum.

Among those confirming his future participation is Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković.

Zelenskyy said on X: "I briefly updated him on our diplomatic efforts and preparations to continue negotiations with the Russian side. 

"If Russia continues to drag out the war, there must be strong sanctions in response."

In a flurry of diplomatic activity, Zelenskyy has also spoken to the leaders of Slovenia, Serbia, Moldova, and North Macedonia.

-SKY NEWS