At Least 34 Dead and 117 Injured in Russian Missile Strike on Ukrainian City of Sumy
At least 34 people were killed and 117 injured after two Russian ballistic missiles struck Sumy, a northern Ukrainian city located just 25 kilometers from the Russian border, on Sunday. Ukrainian officials described the attack as the deadliest of the year, leaving scenes of devastation across the city, with charred vehicles and debris scattered on the streets. Many victims were civilians caught in vehicles, public transport, or nearby buildings when the missiles struck, according to Ukraine’s interior ministry.
President Zelenskyy Condemns Attack, Calls for Strong International Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly condemned the attack, calling the perpetrators “scoundrels” and urging the international community to respond forcefully. He pointed out the strike’s timing on Palm Sunday, accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilians during the religious holiday. In a video message shared on social media, Zelenskyy described the attack as an act of terrorism, emphasizing the contrast between the Russian claims of Orthodox Christianity and their actions.
A local resident, Yevhen, a 27-year-old PhD student, expressed his disbelief, saying, “The people who are fighting against us always say that they are Orthodox believers… but we have experienced first-hand terrorism today. I have no words.”
Three Days of Mourning Declared for Sumy
The acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, declared three days of mourning starting Monday. He acknowledged that the city, with a population of nearly 250,000, had been on high alert due to its proximity to Russia. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that the missile strike was a deliberate attack on civilians, emphasizing the timing as part of a broader strategy to cause maximum harm during a major religious holiday.
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International Leaders Condemn the Attack
The attack drew swift condemnation from world leaders. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented, “These attacks show just what Russia’s supposed readiness for peace is worth,” while officials from the UK and Italy echoed similar sentiments. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the attack as a tragic reminder of the need for peace negotiations.
In an interview prior to the Sumy strike, President Zelenskyy extended an invitation to former US President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine. Zelenskyy urged Trump to see firsthand the devastation caused by the conflict, asking him to visit civilians, warriors, hospitals, and churches.
Cluster Munitions Suspected in the Attack
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, claimed that the missiles used in the Sumy attack contained cluster munitions—a weapon type banned under international conventions that Russia has not signed. Yermak accused Russia of using these munitions to cause maximum civilian casualties. Maryana Bezuhla, a Ukrainian lawmaker, speculated that the missile strike may have been triggered by a leak regarding troop movements or gatherings in the area, though this claim was not independently verified.
Local residents denied any military presence in the city center, with one, Pavriz Manakhov, stating, “There is no military base, there are no soldiers here.”
Wider Escalation and Russian Drone Strike on Odesa
In a separate incident later on Sunday, a Russian drone strike targeted the southern port city of Odesa, injuring five people and damaging a medical facility. The ongoing escalation, including the Sumy attack, has raised concerns of further intensification in the conflict.
Earlier in the month, a deadly missile attack in Kryvyi Rih, President Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed 20 people, including nine children. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labeled the Sunday strike as a war crime, and the International Criminal Court is investigating similar incidents in the ongoing conflict.
Russian Denials and Accusations
The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Sumy attack. While Moscow consistently denies targeting civilians, independent monitors have reported thousands of civilian casualties from Russian strikes since the invasion began in February 2022.
Russia also accused Ukraine of attacking its energy infrastructure in two separate incidents over the past 24 hours, even as both sides continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire accords that include a ban on strikes targeting energy infrastructure.
