Russian drone attack in northeastern Ukraine results in the death of 9 individuals, according to officials

KYIV – According to Ukrainian officials, a Russian drone attack on a passenger bus in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region resulted in the death of nine individuals and left four others injured. The incident occurred shortly after Moscow and Kyiv engaged in their first direct peace negotiations in years, which did not lead to a ceasefire.

Photographs released by Ukraine’s national police depict the aftermath of the attack in Bilopillia city in Sumy, located approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the front line and the Russian border.

The Associated Press could not independently verify details of the incident. There was no comment from Moscow.

The Sumy regional administration condemned the attack as a war crime committed by Russia, describing it as a purposeful strike on civilian transportation that posed no threat.

Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Turkey on Friday in an attempt to reach a temporary ceasefire, but the talks ended after less than two hours without a breakthrough. It was the first face-to-face dialogue between the two sides since the early weeks of Moscow’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

And while both sides agreed on a large prisoner swap, they clearly remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting.

One such condition for Ukraine, backed by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has pushed back against such a truce, which remains elusive.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed the talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, the U.K. and Poland. In a post on X from a European leadership meeting in Albania, he urged “tough sanctions” against Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings.”

In Istanbul, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations, in what would be their biggest such swap.

Both sides also discussed a ceasefire and a meeting between their heads of state, according to chief Ukrainian delegate, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said both sides agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals, with Ukraine requesting the heads of state meeting, which Russia took under consideration.