The Russian attack on the bus close the city of Białopole in the Sumi region was a deliberate killing of civilians," said the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenski on Saturday. We must put force on Russia to halt the killings; without stronger sanctions there will be no real diplomacy," added the President.
The Russians conducted an attack with the Russian kamikaze drone Lancet on a bus carrying civilians on the Biłopilja - Suma way in north-eastern Ukraine. At least 9 people died and 4 were injured. The attack occurred respective hours after Russia and Ukraine conducted the first direct peace talks in Istanbul in 3 years.
"Conscious killing of civilians"
"Seven wounded are in hospitals after a Russian drone hit a regular bus. People have burns, fractures and injuries. Everyone gets the aid they need. Unfortunately, 9 people died.(...) All killed are civilians. The Russians couldn't not know what kind of vehicle they were hitting. It was a conscious killing of civilians" - said Volodymyr Zelenski in Telegram.
The president added that according to preliminary information, the Russians killed the family: "father, parent and daughter killed by bullet". "My condolences to household and friends" - he added.
According to Zelenski on Friday, as all day of this war, there was a anticipation of a ceasefire. "Ukraine has long proposed this - a complete and unconditional ceasefire to save lives. Russia only retains the anticipation of further killing" - he noted.
"We request peace"
"We request hard steps to end the war. We anticipate strong sanctions against Russia from the US, Europe and all our partners. Diplomacy must work. I thank everyone in the planet who truly helps - not with words, but with strength. We request peace" - said the President.
Ukraine's abroad Minister Andrij Sybiha called for increased force on Russia to halt terror, commenting on the Russian attack on a bus close the city of Białopole in the Sumi Oblast.
"It was a deliberate and barbarous war crime... We shouldn't be delusional. The force on Moscow must be increased to put an end to Russian terror" - wrote Sybiha on platform X.
Earlier on Saturday, the Russians carried out an attack with Russian kamikaze drone Lancet on a bus carrying civilians on the Belarusian - Suma way - reported the Sum authorities. At least 9 people died as a consequence of the attack.
PAP
