Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy as residents gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing at least 34 people just days after Donald Trump’s envoy met Vladimir Putin for peace talks.
Two ballistic weapons hit the city centre at about 10:15 am local time [GMT 07:15] on one of busiest church-going days of the year, destroying a bus and several cars.
Pictures from the scene showed lines of black body bags on the side of the road and bodies wrapped in foil blankets.
The dead included two children, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said in a statement. A further 117 people were wounded, including 15 children.
“Only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.”
Emmanuel Macron said that it undermined Washington-led peace talks between the two sides.
“Everyone knows this war was initiated by Russia alone,” the French president said. “And it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it – with blatant disregard for human lives, international law and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump.”
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack, calling it “a stark reminder of the continued bloodshed perpetrated by Vladimir Putin”.
European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen said it was “barbaric” and “even more vile as people gathered peacefully to celebrate Palm Sunday”.
She added: “Russia was and remains the aggressor, in blatant violation of international law. Europe stands with Ukraine and President Zelensky.”
Andriy Kovalenko, a security official who runs Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, noted that the strike came after a visit to Russia by US envoy Steve Witkoff for talks with top officials including Mr Putin.
“Russia is building all this so-called diplomacy … around strikes on civilians,” he wrote on Telegram.
The head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak, said the strike also used cluster munitions to kill as many people as possible, although it was not immediately possible to verify the claim.
