A Russian drone strike killed nine civilians on Saturday when it targeted a minibus in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, according to local authorities.
The regional military administration reported the attack on Telegram, stating, “Unfortunately, as a result of a cynical attack by Russians on a civilian bus, there are fatalities.” The death toll, initially reported as eight, later rose to nine. Four others were injured.
A photo shared by officials shows a severely damaged blue minibus, torn apart by the blast near the town of Bilopillya as it headed toward Sumy.
The attack came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian negotiators held direct peace talks in Istanbul—their first in nearly three years. While the discussions led to an agreement on a major prisoner exchange, no ceasefire was reached. Both parties agreed to continue discussions on a potential truce.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv’s delegation, said the next step would involve a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The U.S. has also expressed support for a potential summit involving President Donald Trump and Putin.
This incident underscores the ongoing toll of the conflict, which has devastated much of Ukraine and displaced millions.
