Shakeel Sobhan
Published May 17, 2025last updated May 17, 2025Just a day after the rare direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, eight people were killed in a Russian strike on a bus in northeastern Ukraine. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uVVX
A Russian attack hit a bus with civilians in Ukraine’s Sumy region, killing at least eight peopleImage: Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP/dpa/picture allianceSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know At least eight killed in Russian attack on bus in northern Ukraine: authorities Russia claims its drones struck a Ukrainian military equipment staging area Australia condemns ‘sham trial’ of its citizen sentenced to 13 years by Russia Here is a roundup of developments on Russia’s war on Ukraine on Saturday, May 17.
Skip next section Germany boosted Baltic Sea surveillance amid suspected Russian sabotage, says WadephulMay 17, 2025
Germany boosted Baltic Sea surveillance amid suspected Russian sabotage, says WadephulGerman Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said surveillance in the Baltic Sea region has been stepped up following suspected Russian sabotage of underwater infrastructure.
In comments to Welt am Sonntag, Wadephul warned of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — sanctions-evading ships allegedly linked to damage of cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
“We, as neighbors, NATO and the EU, are countering hybrid threats with all our might, including further patrols,” Wadephul said in comments released online Saturday ahead of the paper’s publication.
“In the Baltic Sea region, Russia threatens us all,” he said, citing recent incidents of severed cables, signal jamming, unauthorized ship activity and gas pipeline outages since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The German foreign minister called the shadow fleet a security risk and said the European Union will impose further sanctions directly on these ships.
“This also helps Ukraine, as the shadow fleet transports oil every day that Russia sells by bypassing sanctions,” he said.
In January, a Norwegian cargo ship with an all-Russian crew, the Silver Dania, was seized in Norway for suspected undersea cable damaging but was cleared of wrongdoing and released.
The EU is set to adopt a 17th sanctions package on Tuesday, tightening measures against the shadow fleet transporting Russian oil and oil products.
About 84% of Russia’s crude oil exports pass through the Baltic Sea.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uViK
Skip next section Russia says struck Ukrainian military equipment siteMay 17, 2025
Russia says struck Ukrainian military equipment siteRussia on Saturday said its drones struck a Ukrainian military equipment staging area in the Sumy region.
The Russian Defense Ministry statement was reported by the TASS state news agency.
The announcement came after local Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone attack on a civilian minibus in Ukraine’s Sumy region killed nine people and injured four others on Saturday.
Ukraine’s National Police posted photos on Telegram sharing images of a nearly destroyed passenger van with the roof ripped off and the windows blown out.
The police condemned the strike, which occurred near the city of Bilopillya, as a “cynical war crime.”
The attack came just hours after Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks in nearly three years. The negotiations failed to secure a ceasefire, though both sides agreed to a major prisoner exchange.
Local Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone attack on a civilian minibus in the Sumy region killed nine peopleImage: Ukrainische Militärverwaltung https://p.dw.com/p/4uVee
Skip next section Australia condemns ‘sham trial’ of its citizen by RussiaMay 17, 2025
Australia condemns ‘sham trial’ of its citizen by RussiaAustralia on Saturday condemned a Russian-controlled court’s sentencing of an Australian citizen to 13 years in a penal colony for fighting with Ukrainian forces.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the verdict a “sham trial” and said Oscar Jenkins, as a member of Ukraine’s regular armed forces, must be treated as a prisoner of war under international law.
Jenkins, a 33-year-old Australian man from Melbourne, was convicted of being a “mercenary in an armed conflict” and sentenced by a Russian-installed court in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region.
“As a full-serving member of the regular Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war,” said Wong. “The Australian Government has made clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins must be given the protections afforded to him as a prisoner of war. Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.”
She said Australia would work with Ukraine and the Red Cross to ensure Jenkins’ welfare and seek his release.
Jenkins was captured last year while serving in Ukraine’s military.
Russia considers foreigners who travel to Ukraine to fight as “mercenaries” and prosecutes them under its criminal code rather than treating them as prisoners of war, who are protected by the Geneva Convention.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uVb6
Skip next section At least eight killed in Russian attack on bus in northern Ukraine: authorities May 17, 2025
At least eight killed in Russian attack on bus in northern Ukraine: authorities At least eight people were killed in a Russian attack on a civilian bus in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said.
The attack also left five people injured.
Ihor Tkachenko, head of Sumy’s military administration, announced the attack on Telegram, adding that “medics and rescuers have been urgently sent to the scene.”
The strike came just hours after rare direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey.
The lower-level delegation meeting marked the first direct negotiations between the two countries since the early weeks of Russia’s invasion.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uVXb
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageMay 17, 2025
Welcome to our coverageShakeel Sobhan | Sean Sinico
Ukrainian officials said at least eight people were killed in a Russian attack on a civilian bus in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region on Saturday.
The strike came just hours after rare direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
DW will bring you the latest news, analysis and insight from our reporters and correspondents regarding Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Stay tuned for more.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uVVY
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