Deadly Drone Strike Hits Civilian Bus in Ukraine

A Russian drone strike on a bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region has killed nine people, including a father, mother, and daughter, and injured seven others. The attack, which occurred in Bilopillia, has been denounced as a “deliberate and barbaric war crime” by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Sybiha accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of continuing “to wage a war against civilians” and called for additional pressure on Russia.

Ukrainian President’s Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for tougher sanctions on Moscow, stating that “without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy.” He added that Russia had sent a “weak and unprepared” delegation to Istanbul without a meaningful mandate, and real steps were needed to end the war.

Peace Talks

The drone strike came hours after Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Istanbul to attempt to broker a temporary ceasefire. Although the 90-minute talks failed to reach a breakthrough, both sides agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners in what would be the largest such exchange since the start of the war in 2022. Vladimir Medinsky, the lead Russian negotiator, expressed satisfaction with the talks and said Moscow was ready for further negotiations, including on a ceasefire.

International Reaction

British Foreign Minister David Lammy accused Moscow of obfuscating in its approach to the peace talks, stating that “yet again we are seeing obfuscation on the Russian side and unwillingness to get serious about the enduring peace that is now required in Ukraine.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin could meet with Zelenskyy, but only if certain agreements were reached.

Key Quotes

• “All the deceased were civilians,” Zelenskyy said. “And the Russians could not have failed to understand what kind of vehicle they were targeting. This was a deliberate killing of civilians.”
• “There should be no illusions. Pressure on Moscow must be increased to put an end to Russian terror,” Sybiha wrote.
• “Without tougher sanctions, without stronger pressure, Russia will not seek real diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said. “This must change.”