Nine civilians killed in Russian drone strike on Ukraine civilian bus
At least nine people were killed and four others wounded on Saturday when a Russian drone targeted a civilian bus in
Ukraine's northern Sumy region
, according to local authorities.
In a statement on Telegram, the Sumy regional military administration described the incident as a '
cynical attack
' on civilians.
'Unfortunately, as a result of a cynical attack by Russians on a bus with civilians, there are dead,' it said.
In the earlier post, the authorities had said that eight people were killed.
The bus, which was attacked near the city of Bilopillya while travelling towards Sumy, was "targeted by the Russians", the military administration said.
The blast came hours after Russia and Ukraine concluded their first direct talks in almost three years in Istanbul on Friday, but without a significant breakthrough.
The two sides agreed a large-scale prisoner exchange but no ceasefire, saying instead that they would commit to trading ideas on a possible truce.
After the talks, Kyiv said it was seeking an "unconditional ceasefire" to pause the conflict, which has destroyed large swathes of Ukraine and displaced millions of people.
But Moscow has consistently rebuffed those calls and the only concrete agreement appeared to be a deal to exchange 1,000 prisoners each.
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Ukraine's top negotiator, defence minister Rustem Umerov, said that the "next step" would be a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Both Moscow and Washington have also talked up the need for a meeting on the conflict between Putin and US President Donald Trump.
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News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
What Next For Russia, Ukraine? Istanbul Peace Talks Hang By A Thread Amid Drone Barrage
Last Updated: Despite the diplomatic overtures at a neutral negotiating table, hope for peace remains fragile as both Russia and Ukraine continue to square off in the battlefield In a city that has long bridged continents and empires, a new kind of high-stakes diplomacy is set to unfold. On Monday, Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet face-to-face in Istanbul for the second round of direct peace talks since the war erupted in 2022—going on to become Europe's largest conflict since World War II. Despite the diplomatic overtures at a neutral negotiating table, hope for peace remains fragile as both Russia and Ukraine continue to square off in the battlefield and neither side appears ready to yield. Monday's talks come a day after Ukraine carried out one of its most brazen and successful attacks ever on Russian soil—hitting dozens of strategic bombers parked at airbases thousands of kilometres behind the front line. In Istanbul, during the first round of talks last month, both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a large-scale prisoner exchange and to swap notes on what their vision of a peace deal might look like. For Monday, while Russia says it will present a 'memorandum" of its peace terms, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refreshed his call for an immediate halt to the fighting. THE ROADBLOCKS For Ukraine, the absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin from the negotiating table is an unwelcome move. As Zelenskyy stressed that 'key issues can only be resolved by the leaders", Russia has pushed back on the prospect, saying a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting could only happen after the negotiating delegations reach wider 'agreements". Apart from Putin's absence, one of the biggest hurdles remains the disagreement over territory—as Ukraine demands full restoration of its borders, Russia insists on retaining influence over these areas. Ukraine also seeks strong security assurances, including guarantees against future aggression, often involving Western countries or alliances like NATO. Russia, meanwhile, opposes NATO's eastward expansion and demands Ukraine remain neutral. WAR RAGES ON The dichotomy of the peace talks on one hand and continued military actions on the ground on the other undermines trust and complicates diplomatic efforts. Ukraine on Sunday said it had damaged some 40 strategic Russian bombers, worth $7 billion, in a major special operation after months of setbacks for Kyiv's military. Kyiv's security service said the plan, 18 months in the making, had involved smuggling drones into Russia which were then launched from near the airbases, thousands of kilometres away from the front lines, AFP reported. Russian troops have meanwhile been advancing on the ground, particularly in the north-eastern Sumy region, where Putin ordered his forces to establish a 'buffer zone" along the border. 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Kellogg has indicated that the US will be involved in the talks and that even representatives from Britain, France and Germany will be too, though it was not clear at what level the United States would be represented. Trump's positions on the Russia-Ukraine war have often appeared inconsistent—marked by flip-flops that reflect a blend of personal instincts, political calculation, and shifting geopolitical realities. For instance, just days before Russia's full-scale military escalation in February 2022, Trump described Vladimir Putin as 'smart", 'savvy", and 'a genius' for recognising separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. However, as public and international condemnation of Russia grew, Trump began saying that the invasion wouldn't have happened if he were president. After months of clashing with Zelenskyy—including on live television—Trump has undergone a shift, slamming Putin for having gone 'absolutely crazy" and for 'needlessly killing a lot of people" including Ukrainian citizens 'for no reason whatsoever". He has warned that 'what Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!" According to New York Times, Trump told Zelenskyy and other European leaders that Russia and Ukraine would have to resolve the war themselves, just days after saying that only he and Putin had the power to broker a deal. He also seemed to step back from his own threats to join a European pressure campaign that would include new sanctions on Russia, according to six officials who were familiar with the discussion who spoke to NYT— revealing that the US President now stands at a crossroads, unable to broker peace in a conflict he had promised to resolve in 'just 24 hours". WHAT LIES AHEAD? While the resumption of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine offers a glimmer of hope, the substantial differences between the two nations pose significant challenges. Ukraine's insistence on sovereignty and territorial integrity contrasts with Russia's demands, and the involvement of international stakeholders adds layers of complexity to the negotiations. Given that there is no easy solution to a war, what both Russia and Ukraine could agree to may be a continued military stalemate with high-level diplomatic pressure in the short term and potential for ceasefire agreements if battlefield conditions become unsustainable. About the Author Apoorva Misra Apoorva Misra is News Editor at with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. More Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump istanbul news18 specials President Volodomyr Zelensky Russia-Ukraine russia-ukraine conflict United states Vladimir Putin Location : Turkey First Published: June 02, 2025, 13:26 IST News explainers What Next For Russia, Ukraine? Istanbul Peace Talks Hang By A Thread Amid Drone Barrage
The Hindu
36 minutes ago
- The Hindu
The view from India newsletter: How Ukraine hit airfields deep inside Russia
Ukraine carried out its largest drone attack inside Russia on Sunday, targeting at least four military airports in four different regions (across four time zones) in the world's largest country. Unnamed officials of the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU), the country's spy agency, have claimed that the attacks 'destroyed' more than 40 Russian warplanes, including strategic bombers that can carry nuclear missiles, causing damages amounting to $7 billion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed in a social media post the attack, which followed a Russian strike at a military training base in Ukraine, killing at least 12 soldiers, produced 'an absolutely brilliant result'. While the Ukrainian claims of destroying Russian strategic bombers are not independently confirmed, Russia's Ministry of Defence stated that five regions came under drone attacks and that several aircraft in two bases, one close to the border with Norway and the other in Siberia, caught fire. It said the fire was extinguished, other attacks were repelled and that there were no casualties. Russia also saw two bridges collapse in Kursk and Bryansk regions, both close to the Ukraine border, killing at least seven people and wounding 76 others. Russian officials say explosives were used to destroy the bridges. All this happened when Russian and Ukrainian officials were preparing to sit together for direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. It is not clear how Ukraine pulled off such an audacious drone attack thousands of kilometres away from the frontline. According to Ukrainian claims, the four regions that were attacked are: Ryazan, Ivanov, Murmansk and Irkutsk. The Olenya air base in Murmansk, close to the Norwegian border, is around 1,900 km from the frontline. Belaya airbase in the Siberian region of Irkutsk is 4,300 km away from Ukraine. Russian officials said Amur, close to the Chinese border, also came under attack, which was repelled. 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Among the planes that were 'destroyed' are Russian Tu-95, Tu-22M3 and A-50 aircraft, according to the SBU. The Tu-95 bombers, which carry guided cruise missiles, can hit targets from thousands of kilometres afar (Tu-160 is Russia's most advanced strategic bomber). The A-50a are early warning jets that detect enemy aircraft and fire and feed intel on Russian fighter planes. 'Russian strategic bombers are all burning delightfully,' claimed Vasily Malyuk, the SBU chief, after the attack. According to The Economist, Russia's fleet of strategic bombers is relatively small — it operates less than 90 Tu-22s, Tu-95s and Tu-160s. If Ukraine's claims of destroying Russian bombers are true, it's a heavy blow to President Vladimir Putin and his forces. Even if Ukraine is exaggerating Russia's losses, the fact that it carried out such a massive attack deep inside Russian territory can be seen as a tactical gain, at a time when Moscow's forces have launched a new summer offensive and are making incremental territorial advances in the Sumy region. If Ukraine were planning such an elaborate attack for months, there would be questions on why the Russian intelligence failed to detect and deter them. Russia's military bloggers were quick to term June 1 a 'dark day' in the history of Russian aviation. Some others, especially the nationalist sections, called it 'Russia's Pearl Harbour' and demanded a similar response from the Kremlin to that of the U.S. during the Second World War. Mr. Putin, who has faced criticism at home from the nationalist sections for 'not doing enough' in the war, might come under greater pressure to retaliate heavily. The attack is also a heavy blow to U.S. President Donald Trump's public push to end the Ukraine war. 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Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks with few hopes for a breakthrough
Ukraine and Russia meet in Turkey for peace talks with few hopes for a breakthrough (Image: AP) ISTANBUL - Delegations from Russia and Ukraine gathered in Turkey on Monday for their second round of direct peace talks in just over two weeks, although expectations were low for any significant progress on ending the three-year war. The Ukrainian delegation led Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was in Istanbul for the meeting, according to Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, said in a message posted on the Ukrainian Embassy Whatsapp group. The Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, arrived Sunday evening, Russian state media reported. Turkish officials said the meeting would start at 1 p.m. local time, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan presiding over the talks and officials from the Turkish intelligence agency also present. However, Ukrainian spokesperson Tykhyi said the start would be at midday local time. It was not immediately possible to clarify the discrepancy. Recent comments by senior officials in both countries indicate they remain far apart on the key conditions for stopping the war. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Fierce fighting has in the meantime continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, and both sides have hit each other's territory with deep strikes. On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep inside Russia, Ukraine's Security Service said, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones. Russian air defenses downed 162 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions overnight, as well as over the annexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday. Ukrainian air defenses damaged 52 out of 80 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Two ballistic missiles struck a residential neighborhood in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday morning, including one that hit near a school, the city's mayor said. One missile landed near an apartment building, while the second struck a road near the school, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a statement and published a photo of a wide crater. "Standing next to the crater, you realize how different it all could have been," Terekhov wrote. "A few more meters - and it would have hit the building. A few more minutes - and cars, buses would have been on the road." No casualties were reported.
