Michelle Martin

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Keri Kahn, Reena Advani, Pallavi Gogoi, H.J. Mai, and Lisa Thompson. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Heines, and our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched its largest airstrike since the start of the conflict.

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched its largest airstrike since the start of the conflict.

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched its largest airstrike since the start of the conflict.

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. Millions will take to the roads and skies this holiday weekend. But a deadly air collision in D.C. in January and reports of air traffic control outages have raised safety concerns. What should you know before you go?

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. Millions will take to the roads and skies this holiday weekend. But a deadly air collision in D.C. in January and reports of air traffic control outages have raised safety concerns. What should you know before you go?

I'm Michelle Martin, that's A. Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. Millions will take to the roads and skies this holiday weekend. But a deadly air collision in D.C. in January and reports of air traffic control outages have raised safety concerns. What should you know before you go?

Russia has launched massive drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian cities over the weekend.

Russia has launched massive drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian cities over the weekend.

Russia has launched massive drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian cities over the weekend.

Joining us to talk about all this is NPR's Joanna Kakissis, who's in Kiev. Good morning, Joanna. Good morning, Michelle. So let's start with Russia's latest drone and missile strikes. What can you tell us?

Joining us to talk about all this is NPR's Joanna Kakissis, who's in Kiev. Good morning, Joanna. Good morning, Michelle. So let's start with Russia's latest drone and missile strikes. What can you tell us?

Joining us to talk about all this is NPR's Joanna Kakissis, who's in Kiev. Good morning, Joanna. Good morning, Michelle. So let's start with Russia's latest drone and missile strikes. What can you tell us?

Joanna, I've been hearing you report on these attacks just about every day, and they seem to be escalating. So why has Russia intensified its attacks in recent weeks?

Joanna, I've been hearing you report on these attacks just about every day, and they seem to be escalating. So why has Russia intensified its attacks in recent weeks?

Joanna, I've been hearing you report on these attacks just about every day, and they seem to be escalating. So why has Russia intensified its attacks in recent weeks?

So considering all this, have the diplomatic efforts to end the war made any headway at all?

So considering all this, have the diplomatic efforts to end the war made any headway at all?

So considering all this, have the diplomatic efforts to end the war made any headway at all?

And you were there for this latest prisoner exchange. Tell us about that. What kind of condition were the Ukrainians in?