In one of the most devastating assaults Ukraine has faced this year, Russian ballistic missiles hit the heart of Sumy, a northern Ukrainian city near the Russian border, on Sunday. The strike killed 32 civilians and injured more than 80 others, according to Ukrainian officials. This tragedy comes at a sensitive moment, as diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Russia to end the ongoing war appear to be stalling.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, visibly shaken by the brutality of the attack, condemned the Russian government for what he called a “deliberate massacre of civilians.” He shared a chilling video on social media showing the aftermath: lifeless bodies scattered near destroyed vehicles and burning rubble. The attack occurred on Palm Sunday, a significant religious holiday, adding to the heartbreak. “Only scoundrels can act like this,” Zelenskiy said.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described the strike as a calculated attack on civilians. Most victims were going about their day—traveling by public transport, driving in their cars, or walking on the streets—when the missiles struck. The missiles reportedly carried cluster munitions, designed to maximize civilian casualties. “Russia is doing this to kill as many civilians as possible,” said Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff.
This missile strike is the deadliest since September 2024 and follows a similar deadly attack earlier this month in Kryvyi Rih—Zelenskiy’s hometown—that killed 20 people, including nine children.
Sumy, a city of about 250,000 residents, has become a key military zone since last year when Ukrainian forces launched an offensive near the Russian border. Though that operation has been largely pushed back, Sumy remains a frontline target.
Ukrainian officials suspect the missile attack may have been linked to leaked intelligence about a gathering of military personnel. Lawmaker Maryana Bezuhla hinted at this possibility, though it remains unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, the timing of this attack raises serious questions. It came just days after Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss ending the war. Critics argue that Moscow is using diplomacy as a distraction while continuing its campaign of terror. Ukrainian security official Andriy Kovalenko said, “Russia is building its so-called diplomacy around strikes on civilians.”
In response, Ukraine has shared evidence of the attack with international institutions, including the International Criminal Court, which is already investigating numerous allegations of Russian war crimes.
Zelenskiy has urged the U.S. and Europe to act decisively. “Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible. Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs,” he said. As both sides accuse each other of breaking a recent moratorium on targeting energy infrastructure, hopes for peace continue to dim.
