On Sunday afternoon, July 27, Russian forces attacked a passenger bus in the Sumy region. The number of casualties has risen to about two dozen, according to the Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office and Oleh Hryhorov,

The chief aim is probably to change the ethnic makeup and instal people more likely than Ukrainians to be loyal to the Russian invaders

Russia has advanced around Pokrovsk for many months, but has so far failed to entirely encircle or seize control of the city.

Another attempt at peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is on the horizon amid Russia's continuous assault on Ukraine. Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least two people and injured 15 others in Kyiv just hours before the United Kingdom and Germany will hold a meeting to discuss President Trump's plan for NATO allies to provide weapons for Ukraine.

Russian forces, meanwhile, pounded four Ukrainian cities in nighttime attacks that officials said killed a child.