A Russian drone strike hit a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine on Saturday, killing 9 folks and injuring 4 others, Ukrainian officers allege.
The assault got here simply hours after Russian and Ukrainian officers held their first direct peace talks in years, though the 2 sides failed to succeed in a ceasefire settlement for the battle that started with a February 2022 invasion by Moscow.
Ukraine’s nationwide police launched photographs displaying the aftermath of Saturday’s strike within the metropolis of Bilopillia within the Sumy area. Town is about six miles from the entrance line and border with Russia.
“That is one other struggle crime by Russia — a deliberate strike on civilian transport that posed no risk,” the Sumy regional administration mentioned on Telegram.
ZELENSKYY SPEAKS WITH TRUMP ALLIES AFTER RUSSIA PEACE TALKS BROKER NO CEASEFIRE
Rescuers get better the our bodies of passengers after a Russian drone struck a passenger bus on the village of Bilopillya within the Sumy area, Ukraine, Saturday, Might 17, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service by way of AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the assault as “deliberate killing of civilians.”
A mourning interval has been declared in Bilopillia from Saturday by way of Monday. Area people chief Yurii Zarko known as the day of the assault “Black Saturday.”
The passengers on the bus have been being evacuated from Bilopillia when the drone struck, in response to native media outlet Suspilne. Authorities have been working to establish a number of the victims, most of whom have been aged girls.
The injured victims have been transported to a hospital in Sumy, the regional capital. Three folks have been listed in critical situation.
On Saturday morning, Russia’s protection ministry claimed its forces hit a army staging space within the Sumy area, round 31 miles southeast of Bilopillia, however didn’t point out another assaults within the space.
It was not instantly clear how the strike would have an effect on peace efforts.
On Friday, Russian and Ukrainian officers met in Turkey in an try to succeed in a brief ceasefire, however the talks resulted in lower than two hours with out a truce. The negotiations have been the primary face-to-face talks between the 2 international locations for the reason that early weeks of the struggle.
Russian and Ukrainian delegations attend talks on the Dolmabache palace, in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Might 16, 2025. (AP)
Each side agreed on a big prisoner swap, however remained far aside on key situations for ending the conflict.
One situation for Ukraine, which has the backing of its Western allies, is a brief ceasefire as a primary step towards a peaceable settlement. Russia, nevertheless, has pushed again towards the truce, which stays elusive.
In Turkey, Russia and Ukraine agreed to every alternate 1,000 prisoners of struggle in what can be their greatest such swap, in response to the heads of each delegations. Each side additionally talked a few ceasefire and a gathering between their heads of state, in response to chief Ukrainian delegate, Protection Minister Rustem Umerov.
An aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned either side additionally agreed to supply one another with detailed ceasefire proposals, with Ukraine requesting the heads of state assembly that Russia took under consideration.
TRUMP, AFTER SKIPPING RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE TALKS, WANTS TO MEET PUTIN ‘AS SOON AS WE CAN SET IT UP’
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks on the telephone throughout a gathering on the European Political Neighborhood summit in Skanderbeg Sq. in Tirana, Albania, on Friday, Might 16, 2025. (AP)
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Zelenskyy mentioned he mentioned the negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.Ok. and Poland. On X, he known as for “robust sanctions” towards Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an finish to killings.”
Zelenskyy was in Tirana, Albania, on Friday, to satisfy with leaders of 47 European international locations to debate safety, protection and democratic requirements. The leaders he met included French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“Stress on Russia have to be maintained till Russia is able to finish the struggle,” Zelenskyy mentioned on X.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
