Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
Tragic Missile Strike in Sumy Claims Lives on Palm Sunday
KYIV, Ukraine — A devastating missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday resulted in the deaths of over 20 individuals. This attack occurred amid Palm Sunday celebrations, leading to widespread devastation in the city.
According to local officials, two ballistic missiles hit central Sumy around 10:15 a.m., as crowds gathered for religious observances. Footage shared by officials depicted scenes of destruction, with bodies lying among debris and billowing smoke.
Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar expressed his community’s sorrow in a social media statement, stating, “On this bright Palm Sunday, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we already know of more than 20 deaths.”
The Prosecutor General’s Office reported that at least 21 people died in the missile attack, with an additional 83 individuals, including seven children, sustaining injuries, as highlighted by Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko on social media.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that rescue efforts were in progress and indicated that “dozens” of victims had been affected by the assault. He condemned the attack, stating, “Only filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of ordinary people.”
Zelenskyy further called for a unified global response, arguing, “Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.”
This assault came shortly after a day of high-profile diplomatic exchanges in Antalya, Turkey, where the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine traded accusations regarding violations of a U.S.-mediated agreement aimed at suspending attacks on energy infrastructure.
During the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Ukraine has consistently targeted Russia, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha countered that Russia had executed extensive strikes against Ukraine, launching “almost 70 missiles, over 2,200 (exploding) drones, and over 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, mostly at civilians,” since the limited pause was agreed upon.
The tragic incident underscores the severe challenges facing ongoing diplomatic efforts and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
For continuous updates on the conflict, follow the coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
Source
www.yahoo.com