At least nine civilians were killed and four others injured on Saturday in a deadly Russian drone strike targeting a minibus in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, local authorities have confirmed.
The attack occurred near the city of Bilopillya, with the vehicle reportedly heading toward the regional capital, Sumy, at the time of the strike.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the Sumy Regional Military Administration condemned the attack as a “cynical” and deliberate targeting of civilians.
“Unfortunately, the death toll has risen to nine,” the statement read, accompanied by a harrowing image of a mangled blue minibus, torn apart by the explosion.
The vehicle was reportedly struck by a Russian drone, marking one of the deadliest attacks on civilian transport in recent weeks.
The strike came just hours after Russia and Ukraine concluded their first direct talks in nearly three years, held in Istanbul on Friday.
While the negotiations resulted in an agreement to conduct a large-scale prisoner exchange with both sides agreeing to swap 1,000 detainees there was no progress on a ceasefire.
Kyiv has reiterated its call for an “unconditional ceasefire“, with Ukrainian Defence Minister and chief negotiator Rustem Umerov stating that the “next step” in the process should be a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow has so far resisted such calls, and the latest attack further underscores the challenges ahead in brokering peace.
The Kremlin has maintained its aggressive posture, even as diplomatic rhetoric around a possible summit involving U.S. President Donald Trump continues to emerge from both Russian and American officials.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, has devastated large parts of the country and displaced millions.
The targeting of civilian infrastructure and transport has drawn widespread international condemnation, with Saturday’s attack likely to intensify scrutiny over Moscow’s conduct in the conflict.
Ukrainian authorities say the investigation into the drone strike is ongoing, and rescue teams are working at the scene to recover remains and support survivors.
As talks remain fragile and the battlefield continues to claim civilian lives, the prospect of a lasting ceasefire appears elusive.
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