A recent attack in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region has left nine civilians dead and seven others injured when a Russian drone struck a bus that was evacuating people from a frontline area near Bilopillia, approximately 10 kilometres from the Russian border. This tragic event occurred just hours after Moscow and Kyiv held their first direct peace talks in years, which ended without a ceasefire agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, labelling it a “deliberate killing of civilians,” and remarked that the Russians must have known they were targeting a civilian vehicle. He expressed discontent over the failure to secure a ceasefire during the talks and reiterated Ukraine’s long-held stance for a complete and unconditional ceasefire to protect lives, claiming, “Russia only retains the ability to continue killing.”
Local authorities have declared a mourning period in Bilopillia, where community leader Yurii Zarko referred to the day as “Black Saturday.” Meanwhile, seven wounded individuals were taken to a hospital in Sumy, with three reported in serious condition. The passengers affected were primarily elderly women who were being evacuated when the drone struck.
In response to the attack, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his outrage, stating that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is serious about peace, he must agree to an immediate ceasefire, mirroring Ukraine’s position. Concurrently, Russia’s defence ministry claimed their forces targeted a military staging area in the region but did not acknowledge the bus attack.
Despite these tragic events, talks in Istanbul resulted in an agreement for the largest prisoner swap between the two nations, with plans to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. However, both sides remain divided over a temporary ceasefire, a critical step urged by Ukraine, endorsed by its Western allies, and rejected by Moscow.
Ukrainian forces continue to make small advances into Russian territory in the neighbouring Kursk region. This follows earlier claims by Russia that they had regained control over the region after significant losses due to Kyiv’s rapid advances last year.
Zelenskyy, who also held discussions with Western leaders about the outcomes of the Istanbul talks, pressed for stringent sanctions against Russia if they dismiss calls for a ceasefire. As diplomatic efforts continue, there remains a glimmer of hope for future negotiations, but the path remains fraught with challenges, highlighted by ongoing violence across Ukraine.