Kiev, Ukraine - Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone hit a passenger bus in the Sumi area of northeastern Ukraine on Saturday, killing nine people and injuring four others. The attack failed to trigger a ceasefire after Moscow and Kyiv held their first direct peace talks over the years.
Ukraine's national police released photos showing the consequences of the strike in Sumy's Bilopillia City, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the front line, bordering Russia.
The Associated Press was unable to independently verify details of the strike, and Moscow had no comments.
"This is another war crime in Russia - a deliberate strike against civilian transport, which poses no threat," the Sumi Regional Government said in an article on the Telegram Messaging App.
From Saturday to Monday, during a period of mourning announcement by Bilopilia, local community chief Yurii Zarko called the attack day "Black Saturday".
Local media Southoln said passengers on the bus were evacuating from Bilopilia when the strike occurred. Authorities are working to identify some of the victims, most of whom are older women.
The injured person was taken to a hospital in Sumi, the regional capital. The three were reportedly in serious condition.
It is unclear how the strike will affect peace efforts.
Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Türkiye on Friday to try to reach a temporary ceasefire, but negotiations ended less than two hours later without a breakthrough. This is the first face-to-face conversation between the two sides since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Moscow in February 2022.
Although both sides agreed to the large prisoner swap, they were clearly still far away under the critical conditions of ending the battle.
One situation in Ukraine, supported by its Western allies, is a temporary ceasefire, the first step towards peaceful settlement. The Kremlin has objected to such a truce, which is still elusive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders from France, Germany, Britain and Poland. In an article published at the European Leadership Conference in Albania, he urged “hard sanctions” against Moscow if Moscow refuses “a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire and killing ends.”
According to the heads of the two delegations, Kiev and Moscow agreed in Istanbul to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, which would be their biggest swap. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the two sides also discussed their ceasefire and a meeting between the heads of state.
Medinsky, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said the two sides also agreed to provide each other with detailed ceasefire proposals, Ukraine asked the head of the state-owned conference for Russia to consider.
Zelenskyy met with leaders of 47 European countries in Tirana, Albania on Friday to discuss security, defense and democratic standards in the war context.
He met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
"The pressure on Russia must be maintained until Russia is ready to end the war," Zelenskyy said on X. A photo of the leader was posted during the call, the second group since May 10.
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Ashirova was reported in Istanbul.
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Follow the AP's report on the war in Ukraine