A Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Palm Sunday resulted in at least 32 deaths, including two children. This attack, which caused significant destruction, marks the second deadly missile assault in Ukraine within a week. The Ukrainian government is continuing its efforts to rescue survivors.
Deadly Attack on Sumy City
On Sunday, April 13, 2025, a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy resulted in the deaths of at least 32 people, including two children. The missiles struck the city center around 10:15 a.m., just as people were gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.
Images from the scene showed black body bags along the road, and firefighters battled fires among the debris from damaged buildings. The city’s acting mayor, Artem Kobzar, expressed his grief over the tragedy, calling it a “terrible tragedy.”
Casualties and Injuries
The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed the death toll, which included 32 people, with at least 84 others injured, including 10 children. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attack and condemned the actions, describing those responsible as “filthy scum.”
This attack in Sumy follows another devastating missile strike in Zelenskyy’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih, which claimed the lives of 20 people, including nine children, just over a week earlier.
Calls for Global Action
Following the attack, President Zelenskyy called for a global response, emphasizing the need for stronger measures against Russia. He stated that “talks have never stopped ballistic missiles,” calling for an attitude toward Russia “that a terrorist deserves.”
Russian Strike on Kharkiv
In another development, Russian forces launched a strike on a kindergarten in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. The strike shattered windows and damaged the building’s facade, but fortunately, no casualties were reported.
Diplomatic Tensions Over Strikes
The missile strikes come after tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated over a U.S.-brokered deal to pause attacks on energy infrastructure. The foreign ministers of both countries accused each other of violating the temporary ceasefire, highlighting the ongoing difficulties in negotiating peace.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed Ukraine had been attacking Russia consistently, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha countered, accusing Russia of launching over 6,000 guided aerial bombs and 2,200 drones, mostly targeting civilians.
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