Russian missiles hit the city of Sumy, Ukraine, during a Palm Sunday gathering, resulting in at least 34 deaths and injuring 117 others, including 15 children. The attack occurred around 10:15 a.m. as residents were celebrating the religious holiday. This incident marked the second major missile strike on civilians in just over a week.
The assault involved two ballistic missiles that struck university buildings and exploded above the street level. Images from the scene revealed a harrowing sight, with black body bags lining the road and emergency crews battling fires among the wreckage of damaged cars and buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling those responsible "filthy scum" for targeting ordinary people.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, claimed that cluster munitions were used in the strike, aiming to maximize casualties. However, this assertion has not been independently verified. The attack on Sumy followed a previous missile strike on April 4 in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, which killed around 20 people, including nine children.
In response to the tragedy, Zelenskyy urged for a global reaction, stating that traditional talks have failed to stop such attacks. He emphasized that a strong stance against Russia is necessary, equating their actions to terrorism. Other world leaders echoed his sentiments, with French President Emmanuel Macron highlighting the attack’s impact on peace negotiations.
The violence did not stop in Sumy. In the Kherson region, three people were killed in separate Russian strikes, and a Russian attack damaged a kindergarten in Kharkiv, though no casualties were reported there.
These strikes come amid ongoing tensions and accusations from both Russia and Ukraine regarding violations of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Ukraine has been the aggressor, while Ukrainian officials reported a significant number of attacks from Russia, mostly targeting civilians.
As the situation continues to escalate, fears grow that Russia may launch a new offensive, further complicating peace efforts. The international community remains concerned about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, with calls for urgent action to protect civilians from ongoing violence.