A Russian drone strike targeted a civilian bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region Friday morning, killing nine people and injuring seven others in what Ukrainian officials have described as a deliberate attack on non-combatants.
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) reported that the strike occurred within the Bilopillia community. Emergency crews arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, supported by additional response teams from the regional center.
According to the DSNS, rescuers used specialized equipment to recover the bodies of the deceased from the destroyed passenger vehicle.
This is yet another war crime committed by Russian forces. The drone was a remotely piloted system equipped with a video targeting system and used to strike civilians intentionally.
The strike follows a growing pattern of Russian drone and missile attacks on civilian targets. Earlier this month, Russian forces used an FPV drone to hit a civilian car in southern Ukraine, killing at least two people. On May 8, during a ceasefire initiated by the Kremlin, Russian forces targeted another civilian vehicle in the Kharkiv region, injuring three women.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of adopting a tactic of civilian intimidation, using a range of weapons, including Iranian-made Shahed drones and ballistic missiles like the Iskander and North Korean KN-23, to strike populated areas.
The latest attack highlights continued Russian use of precision-guided munitions, including UAVs, to strike beyond front-line combat zones — often with devastating consequences for civilians.