Nine Dead in Russian Drone Strike on Civilian Bus in Ukraine’s Sumy Region

A Russian drone strike has reportedly killed nine civilians and injured seven others after targeting a passenger minibus in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, according to local Ukrainian authorities.

The incident occurred early Saturday in the town of Bilopillia, as the bus was en route to the regional capital. Officials claim the vehicle was hit by a Lancet drone around 6:17am local time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strike, calling it a “deliberate killing of civilians,” and said it was clear to Russian forces that they were targeting a civilian vehicle.

While Russia has not officially responded to the allegations, state-controlled media reported that Russian forces struck a military staging area in Sumy. Regional governor Oleh Hryhorov labeled the attack “inhumane.”

The deadly assault came shortly after Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace discussions since 2022 in Istanbul. Although no significant agreement emerged, both sides agreed to a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war in the coming days. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has long sought a ceasefire and reiterated his willingness to negotiate peace.

Despite the talks, Ukraine maintains that any long-term resolution will require a direct meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow acknowledged Ukraine’s request for a presidential-level dialogue but made no firm commitment.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking from Air Force One during a trip to the Middle East, stated that meaningful progress in ending the war would only come through a face-to-face meeting between himself and Putin. “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I sit down together,” Trump remarked.

The strike in Bilopillia adds to the mounting toll of Russia’s ongoing military campaign, which began with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Sumy, located near the Russian border, has been a frequent target of drone and artillery attacks, particularly after Ukraine launched cross-border operations into Russia’s Kursk region last year.

Earlier in the week, drone strikes by Russian forces reportedly killed three people and wounded nine others in Sumy. On Saturday, Ukrainian drones retaliated by striking an ammunition depot in Russian-occupied Crimea, allegedly setting off explosions in facilities housing weapons, fuel, and equipment.