Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy

Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy

Missiles Hit City Center on Palm Sunday

Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, killing 34 people and injuring 117 in the deadliest single attack in Ukraine this year. The missiles hit a busy part of the city during the afternoon, catching people on the street, in vehicles, and inside buildings.

The strike occurred on Palm Sunday, a sacred holiday in the Orthodox Christian calendar. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the attack as an act of terrorism. “Only scoundrels can act like this,” he said. “Taking the lives of ordinary people.”

Scenes of Devastation and Mourning

Video footage from the scene showed bodies lying in the streets alongside the wreckage of a bus and several burnt-out vehicles. Acting mayor Artem Kobzar announced three days of mourning beginning Monday.

Sumy, a city of approximately 250,000 residents, lies just over 25 kilometers from the Russian border. It has served as a garrison city since Ukraine’s limited incursion into Russian territory last year.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that civilians were among all those killed and wounded. He condemned the attack as a deliberate strike timed to inflict maximum harm on a religious holiday.

Cluster Munitions Allegedly Used

Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, stated that the missiles used in the attack were equipped with cluster munitions — a type of weapon widely condemned for their indiscriminate impact on civilian populations.

“The Russians are doing this to kill as many civilians as possible,” Yermak said.

Conflicting Claims About Military Presence

Maryana Bezuhla, a Ukrainian lawmaker known for publicly criticizing military leadership, suggested that the location may have been targeted due to a leak about a possible gathering of Ukrainian troops. However, this claim remains unverified.

A local resident, Pavriz Manakhov, rejected the idea, saying, “We live in the city centre, there is no military base, there are no soldiers here.”

International Condemnation

Leaders from Britain, Germany, and Italy condemned the attack. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented, “These attacks show just what Russia’s supposed readiness for peace is worth.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv is sharing evidence of the attack with international partners and the International Criminal Court, which is investigating alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.

Diplomatic Efforts Overshadowed

The strike came just two days after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg in an attempt to revive peace talks.

Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using diplomacy as cover for continued civilian assaults. “Russia is building all this so-called diplomacy around strikes on civilians,” said Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation.

Broken Ceasefire and Rising Tensions

Though Ukraine and Russia agreed last month to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, both sides have accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

On Saturday, Russia accused Ukraine of launching five drone strikes on its energy facilities in what it called a breach of the U.S.-brokered moratorium.

Zelenskiy Calls for Stronger Action

In the aftermath of the Sumy attack, President Zelenskiy renewed calls for Western nations to impose stronger pressure on Russia.

“Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs,” Zelenskiy said. “Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible.”

“Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy” “Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy” “Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy” “Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy” “Russian Missile Kill 34 in Ukrainian City of Sumy”