Missile Strike On Sumy Leaves Over 20 Dead As Ukraine Marks Palm Sunday, Zelenskyy Likens Russia To Terrorists
More than 20 people lost their lives in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, as civilians gathered to mark Palm Sunday. Ukrainian authorities said two ballistic missiles struck the heart of Sumy at around 10:15 a.m. local time. Videos shared on official channels depicted scenes of devastation, with bodies lying amid debris and smoke in the city centre.
Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar stated, “On this bright Palm Sunday, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we already know of more than 20 deaths”, news agency AP reported.
According to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, at least 21 people were confirmed dead based on preliminary investigation findings. Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko added on social media that 83 others had been injured in the attack, including seven children, AP's report stated.
'Without Pressure On Russia, Peace Is Impossible': Ukraine President Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that rescue efforts were continuing and confirmed the attack had caused multiple casualties. “According to preliminary information, dozens of civilians were killed and wounded. Only filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of ordinary people,” he said.
Calling for a strong international reaction, Zelenskyy added, “The United States, Europe, everyone in the world who wants this war and these killings to end. Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging this war out. Without pressure on Russia, peace is impossible. Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.”
The deadly strike occurred less than a day after a fresh diplomatic standoff between Moscow and Kyiv, as both countries accused each other of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered agreement to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, alleged, “The Ukrainians have been attacking us from the very beginning, every passing day, maybe with two or three exceptions.” He said Moscow would present a list of Ukraine’s alleged attacks over the past three weeks to the United States, Turkey, and international bodies, as per AP.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha disputed the claim, stating on Saturday that since the limited pause in strikes was agreed upon, Russia had launched “almost 70 missiles, over 2,200 (exploding) drones, and over 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, mostly at civilians.”
The diplomatic tensions were further highlighted by parallel remarks from both countries’ top diplomats at the Antalya event, held just a day after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the prospects for peace.
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