07:40, Sat, May 17, 2025 | UPDATED: 07:41, Sat, May 17, 2025
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Nine people were killed following the attack (Image: Sumy regional military administration)
Nine people were killed following a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, just hours after the two countries held peace talks. The two countries held their first discussions since 2022 just hours earlier, although no breakthrough was achieved except for a small prisoner exchange.
Ukrainian authorities say that four other people were injured in the town of Bilopillia on Saturday morning. Ukraine's national police described the attack as a "cynical war crime", whilst Russia is yet to formally comment on the strike. In a statement, the police service said: "The Russian army has once again struck a civilian object, disregarding all norms or international law and humanity."
However the Russian leader's refusal to join, despite Turkish assurances that he would not be arrested, meant that neither leader was present.
Instead, Zelensky met with Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer and Friedrich Merz and Donald Tusk to hold talks over the phone with US President Donald Trump.
The attack came just hours after a Ukrainian and Russian delegation met for talks in Turkey.
The meeting was the first time the two countries held official discussions since the 2022 invasion.
The talks led to little in the way of breakthrough, although the two countries did agree on a prisoner exchange of 1,000 Russians for 1,000 Ukrainians.
Sumy regional head Oleh Hryhorov said the bus carrying the nine people killed was hit by a Russian Lancet drone at 06:17 local time on Saturday (03:17 GMT).
Ihor Tkachenko, head of Sumy's military administration, said on the Telegram: "Passengers have been injured, medics are now rushing to the scene."
Images from the scene show the mangled remains of a blue bus.
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