At least nine people were killed and seven others injured after a Russian drone struck a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian authorities. The deadly attack occurred just hours after Ukraine and Russia held their first direct peace talks in three years.
Despite discussions covering potential leader-level meetings, a ceasefire, and a prisoner exchange, no significant breakthrough emerged from the talks. Meanwhile, Russian aerial attacks have continued.
The drone strike took place Saturday morning in the city of Bilopillia, located in Ukraine’s Sumy region. Oleh Hrihorov, head of Sumy’s military administration, confirmed that seven people were injured, three of whom are in critical condition.
“This isn’t just another shelling—it’s a cynical war crime,” Ukraine’s National Police wrote on Telegram, accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
Photos released by authorities show the mangled remains of a bus with large holes punctured through its right and top sides, shattered windows, and a destroyed windshield.
The Kremlin has not responded to Ukraine’s accusation. However, Russian state news agency TASS reported, citing the defense ministry, that Russian forces had used drones to hit a Ukrainian equipment staging area in the same region. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of targeting civilians, which each denies.
According to Ukrainian officials, a total of 13 people were killed and over 38 injured in Russian attacks across the country within the last 24 hours. In addition to the Sumy strike, fatalities were reported in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
Friday’s peace talks, held in Istanbul and chaired by Turkey, marked the first in-person negotiations between the two countries since the early weeks of the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend, instead sending a junior delegation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also declined to participate, reaffirming he would only meet with Putin directly.
Sources close to the talks told CNN that Russia demanded Ukraine cede territory still under Kyiv’s control—an offer Kyiv has consistently rejected. Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland criticized the demands as “unacceptable.”
On Saturday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said a Zelensky-Putin meeting could take place—if certain conditions are met. He mentioned that a list of conditions for a potential ceasefire agreement is being prepared and would be shared with Ukraine.
Kyiv and its Western allies continue to push for an unconditional truce and have accused Moscow of deliberately stalling the peace process.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced via social media that he plans to call President Putin on Monday at 10 a.m. to try to broker a ceasefire. He said he will also reach out to Zelensky and NATO leaders afterward.
Earlier this week, Trump stated that meaningful progress in the peace process is unlikely unless he speaks directly with Putin. “I don’t believe anything is going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said.