Russian drone strike injures 12 people in Okhtyrka as regional talks continue

A Russian drone strike on the city of Okhtyrka in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast injured 12 people, including two children, according to local authorities.

The incident was part of a wider overnight drone barrage targeting civilian infrastructure, Ukraine’s national police reported.

Residential buildings, apartment blocks, and other structures sustained damage. Emergency services remain at the site, providing medical assistance and conducting damage assessments.

Sumy Oblast, which shares a border with Russia, has experienced regular cross-border attacks since the beginning of the full-scale conflict. In June, the region saw increased hostilities when Russian forces opened a new front.

The drone strike comes amid reports of ongoing diplomatic discussions. Media sources have referred to unofficial claims of a proposed land exchange, in which Russian forces would withdraw from Sumy and neighbouring Kharkiv Oblast in return for control over the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

The reported proposal was allegedly discussed during a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, though neither side has officially confirmed the details.

While international efforts to facilitate dialogue continue, strikes on civilian areas remain a regular feature of the conflict, contributing to concerns about the stability of contested regions such as Sumy.

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