**Russian Drone Strike Kills 9 Civilians in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast**
A devastating attack by a Russian drone on a civilian shuttle bus has left nine people dead and seven injured in the town of Bilopillia, located in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. The strike occurred early on May 17th, just outside the town, when the bus was targeted by a Russian Lancet loitering munition.
The victims were mostly elderly women over 60, with two to three men also among the dead. Local authorities have condemned the attack as a “cynical war crime,” and have declared May 17-19th as days of mourning in Bilopillia.
“This was not just an accident or a mistake, but a deliberate attack on civilians who were trying to escape the war zone,” said Yurii Zarko, the mayor of Bilopillia. “We are dealing with a targeted war crime here.”
According to officials, the bus was carrying local residents evacuating to Sumy when it was struck by the drone. The attack is just the latest example of Russia’s blatant disregard for international law and its continued targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
**Russia’s Ongoing Attacks on Civilian Targets**
This is not an isolated incident. Between May 16-17th, Russian forces carried out a total of 85 strikes on 31 populated areas across Sumy Oblast, using guided aerial bombs, multiple rocket launchers, and drones to attack residential areas and civilian infrastructure.
The town of Bilopillia lies just nine kilometers from the Russian border, making it highly vulnerable to cross-border attacks. This is not the first time that Russian forces have targeted a civilian bus in Ukraine – a similar drone attack on April 23rd killed nine people in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
**International Law Ignored**
International law strictly prohibits deliberate attacks on civilian targets. Russia’s actions in Ukraine continue to violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and the 1977 Additional Protocol, which prohibit targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure.
“This is a clear example of Russia’s disregard for human life and its continued willingness to ignore international law,” said a spokesperson for the Sumy Oblast Military Administration. “We will not stand idly by while Russian forces continue to attack our citizens.”
**A “Black Saturday” in Bilopillia’s History**
The mayor of Bilopillia has described May 17th as a “black Saturday” in the town’s history, and local residents are in shock over the devastating attack. The bus was a scheduled morning route to Sumy, and most of the victims were elderly women trying to escape the war zone.
As Ukraine continues to face attacks from Russian forces, it is clear that civilians will continue to bear the brunt of this conflict. The international community must stand up for human rights and condemn Russia’s continued disregard for international law.
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