A devastating missile strike by Russia on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least 34 people. Many victims were attending Sunday church services. The attack, described as the deadliest of the year, also left 117 wounded.
Children Among Victims as Ballistic Missiles Rain Down
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed two children were among the dead. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, ballistic missiles were used. One struck a university building. Another detonated mid-air above a public street.
Zelensky called the strike a deliberate act of terror. He urged global leaders to respond forcefully. “Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible,” he said. “Russia must be treated as a terrorist deserves.” 
Eyewitness Horror: “We Took Shelter, Then Smoke Covered Everything”
Residents described the moment of impact. Sumy local Iryna Pryykhodko told Reuters, “The first explosion was loud. But the second was even stronger.” She said windows shattered instantly. “We rushed inside for shelter. After the second blast, everything was covered in smoke.”
The attack struck central areas filled with homes, shops, and schools. Among the dead were Olena Kohut, a musician with the Sumy National Theatre, and Liudmyla Hordiienko, a deputy in the regional tax office.
Footage shows chaotic scenes with people fleeing. Emergency sirens blared. Videos showed injured civilians, body bags, and a destroyed trolleybus, believed to have carried numerous victims. Most onboard did not survive.
Cluster Munitions Used in “Deliberate Targeting of Civilians”
Ukrainian officials believe cluster munitions were used. These weapons release multiple submunitions over wide areas and are especially deadly in populated zones.
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, said this strike was a calculated effort to kill civilians. Military leaders noted it was a two-pronged attack. The second missile exploded above ground to maximize casualties. It landed 200 meters from the first impact zone.
Global Condemnation and Political Fallout
The international community swiftly condemned the strike. Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, called it “horrifying.” Former national security advisor Keith Kellogg denounced the targeting. “This crosses any line of decency,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for stronger action to enforce a ceasefire. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the strike occurred despite Ukraine’s agreement to an unconditional truce.
Zelensky criticized Vladimir Putin for rejecting the U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire in March. “It’s been two months since Putin turned it down,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior Trump official Steve Witkoff met with Putin for over four hours last Friday. Donald Trump later said progress might be underway. “You either put up or shut up,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Violence Escalates as Russia Advances in Border Areas
Matthias Schmale, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, condemned the strike “in the strongest possible terms.” He said it violated international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilians.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified attacks on the Sumy region. Ukrainian forces were pushed back from parts of Kursk Oblast. Russian troops now occupy small settlements inside Ukraine.
Elsewhere in the country, missile strikes continued. In the past 24 hours, attacks in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson killed eight civilians and injured at least 18 more.
