Russian Drone Strike Kills Civilians Evacuating in Ukraine’s Sumy Region.

A Russian drone strike has killed at least nine civilians and injured seven more in northeastern Ukraine, after hitting a minibus evacuating people near the town of Bilopillia in the Sumy region. Local authorities say the attack, which happened early Saturday morning, targeted a bus carrying mostly women and elderly evacuees from an area close to the frontline, just 11 kilometers from the Russian border.

Ukrainian officials condemned the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians, with President Volodymyr Zelensky calling it “a deliberate killing of civilians” and stating, “The Russians could hardly have been unaware of the type of vehicle they were targeting.” According to reports from the scene, the bus was torn apart by the explosion, and a family—including a mother, father, and their daughter—were among those killed. The attack took place less than 24 hours after Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in Istanbul in over three years, which ended without a ceasefire agreement but did result in plans for a large prisoner exchange.

UN rights monitors from the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) have called the incident the deadliest attack in weeks, and are gathering more information about the victims and circumstances. Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU, stressed the ongoing danger to civilians, saying,

“This is a stark reminder that civilians continue to be killed and injured on a daily basis across Ukraine.”

The UN also mourned the loss of Olena Yevtushenko, a local teacher and women’s group leader, who died in the attack along with her husband. UN Women praised the strength and resilience of women in Bilopillia, who have continued supporting their community despite daily attacks and ongoing violence.

While May has seen slightly fewer civilian casualties than April, the HRMMU continues to document daily deaths and injuries, especially along the frontlines. Ukrainian police described the drone strike as a “cynical war crime,” and regional officials declared three days of mourning in Bilopillia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the civilian bus strike, though state media claimed their forces targeted a “military staging area” in the region. International leaders, including the British Foreign Secretary, have called for accountability and a genuine commitment to a ceasefire.

This latest attack highlights the ongoing risks faced by civilians in Ukraine, as fighting continues and peace talks struggle to make progress. The tragedy in Sumy underscores the urgent need for stronger protection of non-combatants and renewed efforts to end the conflict.

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