- A Russian drone targeted a civilian bus in Bilopillia, Sumy, killing nine and injuring four.
- The attack occurred hours after unsuccessful peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv.
- Ukrainian officials condemned the strike as a deliberate war crime against civilians.
A devastating drone strike by Russian forces hit a passenger bus in the northeastern Sumy region of Ukraine, killing nine civilians and injuring four others.
The strike came just hours after Moscow and Kyiv concluded their first direct peace talks in years, held in Turkey. Despite a prisoner swap agreement involving 1,000 captives each, the talks failed to achieve a ceasefire.
Civilian Bus Hit by Russian Drone Strike After Failed Peace Talks
A Russian drone attack targeting a passenger bus in Bilopillia, Sumy, has left nine civilians dead and four injured, with three of the injured in critical condition. The attack occurred as the bus was evacuating elderly residents from the conflict zone, raising serious concerns over the targeting of civilian infrastructure.
The Sumy regional administration condemned the strike as a war crime, alleging that it was a calculated attack on civilians. Photos released by Ukrainian police showed extensive damage to the bus, with charred remains and debris scattered across the area.
Just hours before the strike, Russia and Ukraine had engaged in direct peace talks in Turkey, their first formal negotiations in years. Although both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, no ceasefire was reached, with Ukraine accusing Russia of making unreasonable demands.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has since intensified calls for international support, urging allies to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow. Meanwhile, Bilopillia has declared a three-day mourning period to honor the victims of what local officials have dubbed “Black Saturday.”
The deadly drone strike underscores the ongoing dangers faced by civilians in the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for concrete steps toward a ceasefire.
“In war, the first casualty is truth, but the second is innocence.” — Anonymous
