A Russian drone hit a bus evacuating civilians from a front-line area in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region Saturday, killing nine people, Ukrainian officials said, hours after Moscow and Kyiv had held their first direct peace talks in years that failed to yield a ceasefire.

In the wake of stalled peace discussions, a Russian drone attack on a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine results in nine fatalities, intensifying accusations of war crimes against Russia. Ukrainian leaders call for tougher sanctions and emphasize the urgent need for a ceasefire to pave the way for peace.