At least 34 people were killed and more than 100 wounded when Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian city of Sumy during Palm Sunday celebrations, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
Two ballistic missiles hit the city center at around 10:15 a.m., according to authorities. The State Emergency Service reported that two children were among the dead, while 117 others, including 15 children, sustained injuries. Images from the scene showed firefighters battling fires among the debris, with rows of body bags lining the streets.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack as an act of terror. “Only filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of ordinary people,” he said. Zelenskyy urged the international community to respond decisively, insisting that “talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs,” and calling for Russia to be treated “as a terrorist deserves.”
The head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, alleged that cluster munitions were also used in the attack, though this claim has not been independently verified.
Pattern of Deadly Strikes
The attack comes just over a week after another Russian missile strike on Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih, which killed around 20 people, including nine children.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Russian forces continued to shell Ukraine’s southern and eastern regions. In the Kherson region, a 62-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man were killed, according to local Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. In Donetsk, shelling claimed the life of another civilian, regional Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.
In Kharkiv, a missile struck a kindergarten, damaging the building but causing no casualties, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.
International Condemnation
World leaders quickly condemned the Sumy attack. French President Emmanuel Macron said the strike undermined ongoing peace efforts, adding, “Russia alone chooses to continue this war with blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump.”
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, serving as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, also criticized the attack. “There are scores of civilian dead and wounded. As a former military leader, I understand targeting, and this is wrong. It is why President Trump is working hard to end this war,” Kellogg said.
Rising Tensions Amid Peace Talks
The attack occurred as diplomatic tensions escalated over violations of a tentative U.S.-brokered deal to limit strikes on energy infrastructure. Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers traded accusations during separate appearances at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Ukrainian forces had continued daily attacks despite the agreement, while Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha countered that Russia had launched nearly 70 missiles, over 2,200 exploding drones, and more than 6,000 aerial bombs against civilians since the deal.
Despite Ukraine’s endorsement of a broader ceasefire proposal, Russia has imposed far-reaching conditions, effectively stalling progress. Analysts warn that Moscow is preparing a new spring offensive to strengthen its position at the negotiating table.
