"Analyzing the Progress and Projections of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict as it Enters Day 682"
Ukraine and Russia conducted one of the largest prisoner exchanges since the war began, with 230 Ukrainians released in exchange for 248 Russian soldiers. Meanwhile, Russian missile and drone attacks continue to target Ukrainian cities, with significant casualties and damage reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions. Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by NATO's decision to purchase over 1,000 Patriot missiles, have intercepted most incoming threats. Additionally, a Russian cyberattack in December severely impacted Ukraine's largest telecom provider, Kyivstar. Russia is also reportedly acquiring ballistic missiles from North Korea and seeking to purchase more from Iran.