In the current war, a Russian drone attack on a bus in northeastern Ukraine killed at least nine people. Nine people were shot in all, including three who were in critical condition. A horrible crime took place in the city of Bilopillia, in the Sumy region. This came just hours after Russia and Ukraine had their first direct negotiations of peace in three years.
This attack has been met with widespread outcry and condemnation from Ukrainian authorities. Ukraine’s National Police described the attack as “not just another shelling – it is a cynical war crime.” Indeed, tensions between the two countries have hit their highest point ever. Both sides charge the other with targeting civilians indiscriminately, while the accused strenuously deny these allegations.
This drone attack comes just a day after peace talks to end the conflict were negotiated in Istanbul, Turkey, under Turkish auspices. Though the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin did not show up in person, he dispatched a junior-level delegation to defend Russia’s interests. Indeed, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky side-stepped any Russian engagement except with Putin during negotiations. The discussions focused on the possible broader agenda of future direct meetings between the leaders, a ceasefire deal, and a prisoner exchange. Sadly, they were unable to deliver any major breakthroughs.
Even after the peace talks began, Russian aerial bombardments wreaked havoc in the skies over Ukraine. In the last day alone, these attacks have led to at least 13 deaths and more than 38 injuries. Russian forces targeted a Ukrainian repair and equipment staging area in the Sumy region with Shahed drones. This report is based on reporting by Russian state news agency TASS.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov raised the prospect of a Zelensky-Putin meeting. He made clear that this would only occur if certain conditions are met. He stated, “Such a meeting is possible as a result of the work of the delegations of both sides in reaching certain agreements.”
