Russian Drone Strike Kills Nine in Ukraine’s Sumy Regio
A Russian drone attack has killed at least nine civilians and injured seven others after striking a minibus in the town of Bilopillia, in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region, local officials said on Saturday.
The vehicle was reportedly en route to the regional capital when it was hit near the Russia–Ukraine border early Saturday morning. Ukrainian regional military authorities described the incident as a targeted assault on non-combatants.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike as “a deliberate killing of civilians,” calling it yet another war crime by Russian forces. Ukrainian emergency services were deployed to the scene, with images shared by officials showing the burnt wreckage of the bus and surrounding debris.
The deadly attack came just hours after Russia and Ukraine engaged in their first direct peace talks since 2022. While no substantial progress was made toward a ceasefire, both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving dozens of detainees from each side.
There has been no immediate comment from the Russian Ministry of Defence regarding the drone strike. However, Russia has repeatedly denied targeting civilians throughout the war.
The Sumy region has remained a frontline area due to its proximity to the Russian border, frequently experiencing shelling and aerial assaults.
International human rights organisations have called for an independent investigation into the incident, with the United Nations expressing concern over the continued targeting of civilian infrastructure.
