nine-killed-as-russian-drone-hits-bus-in-ukraine-s-sumy

At least nine people were killed and four others injured when a Russian drone strike hit a civilian bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region on Saturday, local authorities reported.

 

The strike comes a day after both Ukrainian and Russian sides agreed to release 1,000 prisoners of war from each side as a gesture to facilitate future negotiations. However, the talks in Istanbul on Friday ended in a deadlock, with no agreement reached.

 

"Passengers have been injured," Ihor Tkachenko, head of Sumy's military administration, said on social media. "Medics and rescuers have been urgently sent to the scene."

 

Ukraine's National Police condemned the attack, stating, "This is not just another shelling—it is a cynical war crime." The police shared images of a dark blue passenger van nearly destroyed, with its roof torn off and windows shattered, adding to the growing toll of civilian casualties in the conflict.

 

⚡️ Russians attacked a bus near Bilopillia in Sumy region of Ukraine , — Regional Military Administration reports.

Passengers were injured, and medical and rescue services arrived at the scene.

There are 9 dead and 4 injured.

👉Fundraising for the Ukrainian Armed Forces
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— BLYSKAVKA (@blyskavka_ua) May 17, 2025

Also read: US warns Russia of 'crushing' sanctions if peace talks fail

 

The latest strike marks a fresh escalation in the ongoing conflict, which began when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Despite ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, both sides have continued to exchange fire across multiple frontlines.

 

The talks in Istanbul, the first direct dialogue between the two sides in over three years, failed to yield a breakthrough. Russia reportedly sought a temporary ceasefire with conditions, while Ukraine, backed by Washington, demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.

 

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian police noted that the full circumstances surrounding the drone strike remain unclear, as only Ukrainian sources have reported on the incident thus far.

 

There has been no immediate comment from Moscow. Both Russia and Ukraine have consistently denied targeting civilians in their attacks, though the war has resulted in the deaths of thousands, the vast majority of them Ukrainians.

 

The attack, occurring just hours after the stalled peace talks in Türkiye, is likely to further complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.