A Russian drone strike on Saturday resulted in the deaths of nine civilians and injuries to seven others while they were traveling on a bus in northeastern Ukraine, as reported by local authorities. This tragic incident unfolded less than a day after discussions between Ukrainian and Russian representatives, marking their first engagement since the onset of Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine over three years ago.
The attack occurred near Bilopillia, located in Sumy Oblast, a Ukrainian region that borders Russia. Ukrainian police confirmed the drone strike and shared images showing the bus, which had suffered severe damage, including a roof that was blown off by the explosion.
“The Russians could not have failed to understand what kind of vehicle they were targeting. This was a deliberate killing of civilians,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement posted on X.
President Zelenskyy called for intensified sanctions against Moscow, emphasizing the need for greater pressure to halt civilian casualties. He stated, “Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy.”
Local officials react to the attack
Oleh Hryhorov, the head of the local military administration in Bilopillia, confirmed the death count and reported via social media that three of the injured individuals were in critical condition. He characterized the drone strike as “another war crime by Russia,” highlighting the ongoing violence in the region.
As the situation unfolded, Moscow had not provided an immediate response to the attack. However, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, mentioned earlier on Saturday that a physical meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy could still occur under certain unspecified conditions. Peskov did acknowledge the recent agreement regarding the exchange of prisoners.
Prisoner swap discussions
“What the delegations agreed to yesterday remains to be done. Of course, it is primarily a question of exchanging 1,000 for 1,000 [prisoners],” he stated, marking a notable development in the ongoing conflict.
It’s been nearly four years since Putin and Zelenskyy last met in person, with their last face-to-face encounter occurring in December 2019. As tensions remain high, the international community continues to watch closely for any signs of potential diplomatic progress.