At least 32 people were killed and over 80 injured after two Russian ballistic missiles struck the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday morning, marking one of the deadliest attacks on Ukraine this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the strike, which coincided with Palm Sunday, a significant religious day for many Ukrainians. Sharing disturbing footage from the scene, he described the attack as a deliberate act of terror.
“Only scoundrels act like this—taking the lives of ordinary people,” Zelenskiy said, highlighting that victims included people in vehicles, on public transport, and in buildings.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that civilians were targeted indiscriminately, while Zelenskiy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak stated that the missiles used contained cluster munitions, designed to inflict maximum casualties.
Ukrainian officials linked the attack to recent diplomatic developments, including a visit to Moscow by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Critics accused Russia of using high-level diplomacy as a smokescreen for continued civilian attacks.
Zelenskiy urged the United States and Europe to step up pressure on Moscow, warning that peace cannot be achieved while such aggression continues.
The missile strike comes as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year. Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, with recent fighting concentrated in the eastern regions.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating a U.S.-brokered agreement to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure.