Russian Drone Strike Kills Nine Civilians, Mostly Women, in Ukraine’s Sumy Region
A Russian drone strike deliberately targeted a civilian minibus in Ukraine’s Sumy region on Saturday, killing nine people, most of them women, according to Ukrainian officials. The vehicle was struck near the town of Velyka Pysarivka, just kilometers from the Russian border, in a region increasingly terrorized by Moscow’s aerial attacks on civilians.
The drone, identified as a Russian loitering munition, hit the minibus as it traveled along a local road. Authorities confirmed that all of the victims were unarmed local residents, and that no military activity or infrastructure was present in the vicinity.
“This was not a mistake. It was a targeted killing of civilians,” said Sumy regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh. “These were ordinary people—mothers, daughters, workers—trying to live their lives. Russia struck them down without hesitation.”
Ukrainian emergency services recovered the remains and launched a criminal investigation, saying the evidence will be submitted as part of the broader documentation of Russian war crimes against civilians.
The Kremlin has not commented on the strike, continuing a consistent pattern of silence and denial following attacks on civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian officials say these strikes form part of a deliberate strategy to terrorize and depopulate border communities in preparation for potential future occupation.
The Sumy region, already battered by artillery and drone attacks, has seen an uptick in assaults on non-military targets in recent weeks. Border towns have been evacuated, and local authorities are scrambling to fortify medical facilities and shelters ahead of expected escalation.
As the war enters its third year, Ukrainian officials are urgently renewing calls for advanced air defense systems and increased sanctions to stop Russia’s attacks on civilians.
“This was not a misfire,” Artiukh said. “It was a message—one written in blood. And it demands an answer.”
Russia continuously strikes Ukrainian cities, killing civilians in broad daylight. Most recently, it targeted Kyiv and southern parts of Ukraine.