Ukrainian authorities announced on Saturday that nine people were killed and four others injured in a Russian drone strike targeting a civilian bus in the northeastern Sumy region.

According to a written statement posted by the Sumy Regional Military Administration on Telegram, the attack occurred near the city of Bilopillia. A Russian military drone reportedly struck a bus en route to the city of Sumy, resulting in heavy casualties.

The statement confirmed that the drone hit the bus directly, killing nine and wounding four. Local officials condemned the strike, describing it as another deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure.

The incident comes amid continued Russian military operations against Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. Moscow has demanded that Kyiv abandon efforts to join Western military alliances—conditions Ukraine deems a violation of its sovereignty.