According to official sources, a catastrophic Russian missile attack on Palm Sunday killed at least 34 civilians. It injured over 100 more, leaving the Ukrainian city of Sumy in a state of mourning. The assault, which started at approximately 10:15 am local time, is the second time in a week that there have been large-scale civilian deaths in Ukraine.
Eyewitness accounts and initial reports painted a grim picture of the aftermath, with images showing rows of body bags lining the streets. Rescue workers navigated through debris-strewn areas with the remnants of shattered buildings and burned vehicles.
Two children were among the dead, according to Ukrainian police, highlighting the extent of violence. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly denounced the attack and called the attackers “filthy scum” for their willful targeting of victims on a religiously significant day.
He claimed that the first missile hit a university building and the second exploded above street level, indicating that the goal was to cause as many casualties as possible. The situation became even more dire as President’s Office Head Andriy Yermak claimed that the missile strike in Sumy used cluster munitions, which are meant to do extensive damage.
The large number of casualties highlights the attack’s catastrophic impact, even if independent sources were unable to confirm this allegation right away. The missile strike came after recent diplomatic attempts to find a way to peace amid already shaky prospects for de-escalation.
International leaders have swiftly condemned this most recent act of brutality. This tragedy is a sobering reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the pressing need for a long-term solution to stop more innocent deaths.
