Among the dead is a whole family, says Volodymyr Zelenskyj on the X platform: mother, father, and a daughter.
"All the dead were civilians. The Russians cannot have avoided understanding what kind of vehicle they attacked. This was intentional killing of civilians", he claims.
Burn injuries and fractures
In pictures published by the region's military administration, which calls the attack a "war crime", a blue minibus can be seen torn apart in the explosion. Next to the vehicle lies a dead body in a pool of blood. Another picture appears to show a body hanging out of a window. Many of the victims are said to be elderly women.
The bus was on its way to Sumy when it was hit near Bilopillja, according to Ukrainian information. Several people were also injured.
"The victims got burn injuries, fractures, and blast injuries", writes Zelenskyj.
Russia confirms an attack on the Sumy region, but claims it was directed at military targets.
Kremlin: Presidential meeting "possible"
The attack on the minibus took place just hours after representatives of Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul, Turkey, in the first direct talks between the countries in over three years.
The meeting ended without any breakthroughs in the negotiations for peace. Afterwards, Ukraine accused Russia of having presented "unreasonable demands", including territorial gains and political changes in Kyiv.
Neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian president participated in the talks. On Saturday, the Russian Kremlin claims that a presidential meeting is "possible" if the parties first reach an agreement, writes AFP.
