A devastating missile strike launched by Russia on the Ukrainian city of Sumy has resulted in the tragic loss of 34 lives, including two children, and has left 117 individuals injured. This shocking incident, which occurred on a Sunday morning, has drawn fierce condemnation from Ukraine’s Western allies.
The attack, involving two ballistic missiles, targeted the city center, causing explosions near the state university and the congress center. The aftermath was gruesome, with bloodied bodies scattered across the streets.
International leaders respond to the tragedy
US President Donald Trump characterized the assault as a “horrible thing.” Meanwhile, Friedrich Merz, who is poised to become Germany’s new chancellor, labeled the act as a war crime. As of yet, Russia has not issued an official response, and reports suggest that its forces are gearing up for a significant offensive from across the nearby border.
The missile attack comes at a critical juncture, as the United States, Ukraine’s most significant military supporter, is actively seeking a resolution to the ongoing war, now in its fourth year, under Trump’s administration. Addressing the assault, Trump described it as “terrible,” adding that he had been informed it was a mistake but did not provide further details.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and a retired Lieutenant General, condemned the attack, stating that it had crossed “any line of decency.” In response to this ongoing violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Trump to visit Ukraine to witness firsthand the devastation wrought by the conflict.
“Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead,” Zelensky urged in a CBS interview recorded prior to the Sumy attack.
Condemnation from global leaders
Merz emphasized the severity of the attack on German public broadcaster ARD, asserting that it constituted a “serious war crime” and was a “perfidious act.” Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that this incident revealed the true nature of Russia’s purported willingness for peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as a “blatant disregard of human lives and international law,” demanding that strong measures be taken to enforce a ceasefire. He stated, “France is working tirelessly toward this goal, alongside its partners.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized the assault as “barbaric,” reinforcing that Russia remains the aggressor and is in clear violation of international law. She called for urgent measures to impose a ceasefire and emphasized the need for a just and lasting peace based on Ukraine’s terms.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his outrage over the horror inflicted upon civilians in Sumy, stating he was “appalled at Russia’s horrific attacks.”
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the attack, declaring himself “deeply alarmed and shocked.” He reiterated that attacks on civilians are prohibited under international humanitarian law and must cease immediately. Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting efforts for a just and lasting peace that upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Sunday’s missile strike marked the deadliest attack on civilians in Ukraine thus far this year. Earlier in April, another Russian missile assault had claimed 20 lives and injured 61 in Kryvyi Rih, with Russia alleging it targeted a meeting of military leaders, though no evidence was provided.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of individuals—predominantly soldiers—have been killed or injured across both sides of the conflict. The UN has reported that nearly seven million Ukrainians are currently displaced as refugees. The roots of this conflict trace back over a decade to 2014, following the overthrow of Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, which prompted Russia to annex Crimea and support insurgents in eastern Ukraine.