Russian Missile Strike in Sumy Kills at Least 32 on Palm Sunday

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A devastating missile strike by Russian forces in the northeastern city of Sumy resulted in the deaths of at least 32 people on Sunday morning, according to local officials. The attack occurred around 10:15 a.m. as residents gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.

The State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that among the deceased were two children, and a total of 84 individuals were injured, including 10 children. Video footage from the scene depicted harrowing images of charred vehicles and emergency responders attempting to rescue victims amid the destruction of residential buildings.

Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar expressed his grief on social media: “On this bright Palm Sunday, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we already know of more than 20 deaths.” Further clarification from authorities confirmed that the final toll included individuals struck by the two ballistic missiles that hit the city center.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement, condemned the attack as an act of terror against ordinary civilians. “Only filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of ordinary people,” Zelenskyy said, as he emphasized the need for a strong global response. He also confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing and that the attack marked the second significant assault on civilian targets within a week, following an earlier strike in Kryvyi Rih that left 20 people dead.

Zelenskyy urged the international community to take decisive action against the aggression, stating, “Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.” He reiterated the necessity of pressure on Russia to achieve peace.

In a separate incident within Ukraine, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a Russian missile struck a local kindergarten but fortunately caused no casualties.

The events unfolded shortly after senior diplomats from both countries exchanged accusations of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered arrangement aimed at pausing energy infrastructure attacks. This highlights the complicated dynamics hampering negotiations toward resolving the ongoing conflict.

At a recent Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of being the aggressor, while Ukrainian officials countered that Russia had launched a significant number of missile and drone attacks since the supposed pause in hostilities.

As the situation evolves, public sentiment grows increasingly fraught. Witnesses to the strike described the horrors of the moment when the missiles struck, with one survivor recalling how debris flew everywhere as he narrowly avoided the blast. “It was a very strong explosion,” he said, visibly shaken and bandaged from injuries sustained.

The international community continues to follow the evolving situation closely, with the potential for further escalations amidst ongoing conflict and talks on the diplomatic front.