[EUROPE] In the bloodiest attack on civilians this year, a Russian ballistic missile struck Sumy, Ukraine, as people were walking to church for Palm Sunday, killing at least 34 people and injuring more than 100. Two rockets landed in the congested city center on Sunday morning. One struck a trolley bus loaded with passengers. Footage from the scene showed victims on the street, flaming automobiles, and rescuers dragging bloodied survivors. Two of the deceased were youngsters.
The strike comes amid a renewed Russian offensive targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and urban centers, part of what analysts describe as a deliberate strategy to break civilian morale. Over the past month, Russian forces have intensified long-range missile attacks, exploiting gaps in Ukraine’s air defenses as Western military aid faces delays. Sumy, a frequent target due to its proximity to the border, had already endured repeated shelling, but Sunday’s assault marked a significant escalation in brutality.
"My seven-year-old son was rushing for cover when the second missile hit. The bomb ripped off a door, hitting him in the leg. He has a bruise but is fine," said Volodymyr Niankin, a film director. "My son said this is the most terrible day of his life."
Niankin claimed he saw bodies on the ground. "Many of those who died were sitting on the bus or walking down the street. It was a religious event, so there were many people out and about. I believe this is genocide."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's president, stated that "dozens of dead and wounded civilians" had occurred. He accused Russia of carrying out an act of premeditated terror and said a harsh response was needed from the US, Europe and the rest of the world.
International law experts have repeatedly condemned Russia’s targeting of civilian areas as a violation of the Geneva Conventions. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented over 12,000 civilian deaths since the invasion began, with countless more injured or displaced. Despite mounting evidence of war crimes, Moscow continues to deny responsibility, often falsely claiming its strikes hit military targets.
"Missiles from the enemy targeted everyday life in the city, including homes, schools, and autos. And this on a day when people attend church: Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem," he said on social media. Donald Trump condemned the incident, calling it "horrible" and a "mistake".
"I believe it was dreadful. And I was told they made a mistake," he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. "But I believe it is a dreadful thing. I think the entire war is a terrible thing." Keith Kellogg, Trump's ambassador to Ukraine, had stated that the attack "crosses any line of decency". As a former military leader, I understand targeting, and it is wrong. This is why President Trump is fighting so hard to put an end to the war," he wrote on X.
Trump’s comments drew mixed reactions in Ukraine, where many remain skeptical of his approach to the conflict. While some hope his direct engagement with Putin could de-escalate tensions, others fear his emphasis on negotiation risks legitimizing Russia’s territorial gains. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly stressed that any peace deal must include a full withdrawal of Russian forces and accountability for atrocities.
Zelenskyy claimed that the Kremlin was ignoring a US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. "Unfortunately, in Moscow, they believe they can kill with impunity. Action is required to change the situation," he stated. Officials said that 117 individuals had been hurt, including 15 children. European leaders have also expressed their outrage.
Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, stated that he was "appalled at Russia's horrific attacks on civilians". He stated that Vladimir Putin "must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions". Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, agreed on the "urgent need to impose a ceasefire on Russia". "Everyone knows it is Russia alone that wants this war," according to him. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy leader, called the scenes in Sumy as tragic and horrible.
The attack has reignited debates within NATO about further tightening sanctions on Russia, particularly targeting its oil and gas exports, which remain a critical source of revenue for the Kremlin. Some member states are also pushing for accelerated deliveries of advanced air defense systems to Ukraine, though logistical challenges and political hesitations persist. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations warn that continued strikes on cities like Sumy are overwhelming local hospitals and emergency services already strained by years of conflict.
The EU ambassador to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, described the strikes as a war crime. "Nothing seems to be sacred to the Russians - neither churches, nor Ukrainian children," she told me. Ukrainians compared photographs of bodies in Sumy to photos of Trump's personal envoy, Steve Witkoff, joyfully shaking hands with Putin on Friday. The two talked for four hours in St. Petersburg. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press spokesperson, said on Sunday that the negotiations were doing well but that it was "impossible to expect any immediate results."
Trump has stated that he is "pissed off" by Russia's reluctance to cease bombing, but has yet to take any real action against Moscow. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, which Washington offered a month ago. Since then, Russia has intensified its bombing of Ukrainian cities, launching 70 missiles and 2,200 drones. Earlier last month, a Russian missile struck a playground in Kryvyi Rih, killing nine children and nine adults.
Zelenskyy has been urging partners to supply an additional ten Patriot air defense systems to protect Ukraine's airspace. "Talks have never deterred ballistic missiles and air bombs. "We need the kind of attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves," he stated on Sunday. Sumy is located 15 miles (25 kilometers) from the Russian border and serves as a key Ukrainian military station. The rockets struck in a central civilian area, where many people were carrying Palm Sunday willow branches on their way to church.
A automobile dashcam video shows an orange flare when one of the missiles strikes at 10.20 a.m. Plumes of grey smoke can be seen as other vehicles reverse away from the hazard and pedestrians flee in panic. The first missile struck a conference centre at Sumy's public university. Several children waited outside for an 11 a.m. theatre performance in a subterranean location. The second landed 200 metres further, on Pokrovska Street, as the trolley bus passed by.
Niankin described the center as a one-of-a-kind arts cluster that also housed his own theatre. “I feel like half of my heart has been taken away. It was a place where we could play and create. Everything is destroyed: the stage, costumes, all our stuff. We have no chance to continue our work,” he said. The director, who made a video about Sumy's resistance to Russia's 2022 invasion, stated that there were few individuals inside the building when it was crushed. "It happened half an hour before the event was scheduled to begin. My son was nearby taking a class in a studio."
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence commander, stated that Russia launched two Iskander-M missiles from its western territory in the Voronezh and Kursk districts. He named the 112th and 448th missile brigades as the ones responsible. "Another proof of the godlessness of the disgusting cursed Moscow," his words went.
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