A Russian drone strike has killed at least nine civilians and injured four more after hitting a public bus travelling near the town of Bilopillia in Ukraine’s Sumy region, local officials said.
The attack took place on Friday as the vehicle was en route towards the regional capital, Sumy. According to the Sumy regional military administration, the strike was carried out by a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle and directly targeted the bus carrying civilians. Medical teams and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene immediately, and the injured were transported to local hospitals.
Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy regional administration, called the attack a “cynical strike” on peaceful residents. “My condolences to the families of those killed,” he said in a statement. “A rescue operation is ongoing.”
Ukrainian police described the incident as a war crime and have launched an investigation. “This was not just another shelling. It was a deliberate attack on a civilian object, a gross violation of international humanitarian law,” the National Police of Ukraine said. Investigators are currently working at the site to document the aftermath and gather evidence.
The assault on the civilian bus marks another escalation in Russia’s ongoing campaign of strikes on civilian infrastructure and transport routes, particularly in Ukraine’s northern border regions, which are frequently targeted by aerial attacks.
The international community has repeatedly condemned such strikes, calling for accountability and stronger protective measures for civilians in conflict zones.