Russian Drone Attack on Ukraine
The attack in Bilopillia — a town about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Russian border — left nine people dead and injured seven others, including three seriously, according to local Governor Oleh Hryhorov and Ukraine’s national police. The Associated Press has not independently verified the report, and Moscow has not issued a comment.
A Russian drone strike on a civilian minibus in northeastern Ukraine has left nine people dead, according to Ukrainian officials.
Regional military authorities reported that the attack occurred Saturday morning in Bilopillia, injuring seven others as the minibus was en route to Sumy, a regional capital near the Russian border.
The Drone Attack came just hours after Russia and Ukraine held their first in-person talks in over three years. While little progress was made, the two sides did agree to a prisoner exchange.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it ‘a deliberate killing of civilians.’ Russia has not officially responded, but its state media claimed the strike targeted a ‘military staging area’ in the Sumy region.
Friday’s talks in Istanbul, Turkey, ended without a breakthrough, as Ukraine and Russia remain deeply divided on how to resolve the conflict.
Despite the lack of progress, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war in the coming days.
Commenting on the talks, President Zelensky stated, ‘As with any day during this war, there was a chance to establish a ceasefire. Ukraine has long been advocating for this.
The history of relations between Russia and Ukraine is complex, marked by periods of cooperation, tension, and conflict. Here’s a breakdown of key periods:
Early History:
- Kievan Rus’ (9th-13th centuries): Both Russia and Ukraine trace their origins to this medieval East Slavic state centered in Kyiv. This shared history is a point of contention, with both countries claiming it as the foundation of their own identity.
- Fragmentation and Foreign Rule (13th-18th centuries): Following the Mongol invasion, the territories of modern-day Ukraine and Russia diverged. Ukraine was largely under the control of Lithuania and Poland, while the Grand Duchy of Moscow rose to prominence in the northeast.
- Cossack Hetmanate (17th-18th centuries): A Ukrainian Cossack state emerged, seeking autonomy. It allied with the Tsardom of Moscow through the Treaty of Pereiaslav in 1654. The interpretation of this treaty remains a source of disagreement, with some Ukrainians viewing it as a military alliance and some Russians seeing it as the beginning of Ukraine’s integration into Russia.
- Incorporation into the Russian Empire (late 18th century): By the late 18th century, most of Ukraine’s territory was absorbed into the Russian Empire through partitions of Poland and wars with the Ottoman Empire. Ukrainian language and culture faced suppression.
20th Century and Soviet Era:
- Ukrainian Independence Movements (early 20th century): Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Ukraine briefly declared independence as the Ukrainian People’s Republic. However, this was short-lived, as Bolshevik forces gained control.
- Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (1922-1991): Ukraine became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. This period saw both industrialization and devastating events like the Holodomor, a man-made famine in the 1930s that killed millions of Ukrainians. The Soviet government also implemented policies of Russification.
- World War II: Ukraine was a major battleground and suffered immense human and material losses.
- Dissolution of the Soviet Union (1991): Ukraine declared its independence on August 24, 1991, which was overwhelmingly supported in a nationwide referendum in December 1991. Rus. recognized Ukraine’s independence.
Post-Soviet Era (1991-2014):
- Uneasy Relations: The initial years saw cooperation, but also emerging tensions over issues like the Black Sea Fleet and Russia’s influence in Ukraine. Ukraine pursued a more Western-oriented foreign policy, which was viewed with suspicion by Rus.
- Gas Disputes: Economic disagreements, particularly over natural gas supplies and transit, frequently strained relations.
- Orange Revolution (2004): Mass protests against alleged election fraud led to a rerun of the presidential election, bringing a more Western-leaning government to power. Rus. viewed this as Western interference.
The Annexation of Crimea and the War in Donbas (2014):
- Euromaidan Revolution: Protests erupted in Ukraine in late 2013 following President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to reject an association agreement with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Rus. Yanukovych was ousted in February 2014.
- Russian Annexation of Crimea: In March 2014, following the deployment of Rus. troops, Rus. annexed the Crimean Peninsula after a controversial referendum that was widely condemned internationally as illegitimate. Russia argued it was protecting the rights of ethnic Russians and the outcome reflected the will of the Crimean people.
- War in Donbas: In April 2014, a conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. Rus. denied direct military involvement but provided significant support to the separatists.
Full-Scale Invasion (2022-Present):
- Escalation: After a prolonged military buildup on Ukraine’s borders, Rus. launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russia’s stated goals included the “demilitarization” and “denazification” of Ukraine, as well as the protection of Russian speakers.
- Severed Diplomatic Ties: Ukraine severed all formal diplomatic relations with Rus. in response to the invasion.
- Ongoing Conflict: The war has resulted in widespread destruction, displacement, and casualties. International condemnation and sanctions have been imposed on Rus. Peace talks have occurred but have so far failed to achieve a lasting ceasefire or resolution. As of May 16, 2025, peace talks in Turkey ended without a breakthrough, though a large prisoner swap was agreed upon.
The relationship between Russia and Ukraine is deeply fractured, with a long history of intertwined yet often conflicting interests and interpretations of the past shaping the current tragic conflict.