Russian Missile Strikes in Sumy Kill 34 on Palm Sunday in Deadliest Attack

A devastating missile strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy has claimed the lives of at least 34 people, marking the deadliest attack in the ongoing conflict this year. The attack took place on Palm Sunday, as residents were gathered at church services, a day traditionally filled with community worship.

Among the casualties were two children, with over 100 others wounded. The strike targeted the city center, with missiles hitting key buildings, including a university and residential areas. Ukrainian authorities reported that 117 people were injured, 68 of whom are currently hospitalized, with eight in serious condition.

The deadly missile strikes, launched by Russia, hit the city at around the time when churchgoers were attending services. Volodymyr Artyukh, head of the regional military administration, noted that the strikes were aimed at causing maximum civilian casualties, with the city’s streets packed with people during the attack.

One witness, Natalia Pihul, described the horrific scene as her mother was injured by debris after a powerful explosion shattered the windows of their apartment. “How is this even possible?” Pihul exclaimed, as she walked through the damaged building. “There is no military base here. Why target us?” The explosion destroyed 20 buildings, including homes, shops, cafes, and even the district court.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate targeting of civilians. Preliminary reports suggest that the missiles used in the attack contained cluster munitions, which are designed to release multiple explosives over a wide area, making them especially deadly in populated regions.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, called the use of cluster munitions “a deliberate attempt to kill as many civilians as possible.” Videos from the scene show shattered windows, piles of rubble, and emergency responders carrying out bodies covered with emergency blankets. Footage also shows a trolleybus that was blown apart by the attack, with many of its passengers reportedly killed.

The international community quickly condemned the attack. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed condolences to the victims, while former US military officials described the targeting as crossing “any line of decency.” Ukraine’s allies, including European Union officials and French President Emmanuel Macron, have called for stronger measures to hold Russia accountable and to end these kinds of attacks on civilians.

Zelensky, in a passionate statement, called for stronger international action against Russia, saying, “Talking has never stopped missiles. We need to treat Russia as a terrorist state.”

The strike on Sumy follows a troubling pattern of escalating Russian air and missile attacks in Ukraine’s northeastern regions, including Sumy, Donetsk, and Kharkiv. In recent weeks, Russian forces have intensified their attacks as part of a larger effort to push Ukrainian forces out of the nearby Kursk region.

The Sumy strike stands as the worst single attack on Ukrainian civilians since 2023, surpassing a deadly missile strike in Kupiansk that killed 51 people. With Russian forces continuing their air assaults, the region remains at high risk.

In the wake of the attack, Ukraine is calling for greater international support to hold Russia accountable for its actions and to pressure the aggressor to end the violence. The United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, strongly condemned the attack, stating that international law prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

This latest strike is a grim reminder of the human cost of the ongoing war in Ukraine, with thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire of a conflict that continues to escalate despite international efforts for peace.

As Sumy residents mourn the loss of loved ones and the destruction of their homes, the global community watches, hoping that stronger actions will be taken to prevent further civilian casualties in this brutal war.