“Palm Sunday Massacre: 32 Dead in Russian Strike on Ukraine”
At least 32 people, including two children, were killed and more than 80 others injured following a Russian missile strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, according to Ukrainian officials.
The attack, which occurred around 10:15 a.m. local time, involved two ballistic missiles striking a central area of the city as residents gathered to observe Palm Sunday. Images released by Ukrainian emergency services showed rows of body bags along the roadside and emergency workers responding to fires and damaged buildings. Burned vehicles and debris were visible at the scene.
“This Palm Sunday has brought a terrible tragedy to our community,” said acting Mayor Artem Kobzar in a public statement. He confirmed that initial reports indicated more than 20 fatalities, a figure that later rose to 32, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The agency also reported that 84 people were injured, including 10 children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that rescue efforts were ongoing and described the strike as a deliberate attack on civilians. “According to preliminary information, dozens of civilians were killed and wounded,” Zelenskyy said. “This kind of violence against ordinary people cannot be justified.”
The Sumy strike marks the second major civilian casualty event in Ukraine in recent weeks. On April 4, a missile attack on President Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih killed approximately 20 people, including nine children.
In response to the latest violence, President Zelenskyy called for stronger international measures against Russia. “Ballistic missiles and aerial bombs are not deterred by dialogue alone. A state that carries out such acts should be treated accordingly,” he said.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that a Russian strike had damaged a kindergarten building, shattering windows and damaging the facade. No injuries were reported in that incident.
The attacks occurred amid renewed diplomatic tensions. On Saturday, senior diplomats from both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered agreement aimed at reducing strikes on energy infrastructure. The dispute highlights ongoing challenges in efforts to de-escalate the conflict, now in its third year.
Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Ukrainian forces had continued attacks throughout the ceasefire period. Lavrov stated that Russia intends to provide documentation of alleged Ukrainian strikes to the United States, Turkey, and other international bodies.
The developments come shortly after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to explore potential avenues for peace negotiations. However, continued hostilities suggest that a resolution remains elusive.
Source article originally posted here: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/13/g-s1-60065/more-than-20-people-killed-in-russian-missile-attack-on-ukrainian-city-of-sumy