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As Volodymyr Niankin hurried to the center of Sumy to reunite with his wife and their seven-year-old son, who had just reached a shelter moments before a missile struck, he found himself amidst a harrowing scene reminiscent of a disaster film.
The aftermath of the missile strikes left bodies strewn across the ground and vehicles engulfed in flames, illustrating the devastating impact on this once-vibrant city in northeastern Ukraine.
“People were yelling and crying near the deceased,” Niankin recounted in an interview. “My son remarked that it was the worst day of his life. For me, it was equally devastating.”
Reports indicate that at least 35 individuals lost their lives, with over 115 others injured when two Russian ballistic missiles targeted an area near Sumy State University. The attack coincided with many residents heading to church for Palm Sunday services.
Russia claims the strikes were aimed at a military commanders’ meeting in the city. However, United Nations human rights experts have labeled this incident as a troubling indicator of an alarming trend: a rising number of civilian casualties in Ukraine, occurring even as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire continue.
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On Palm Sunday, Russian missiles targeted the heart of Sumy, resulting in significant loss of life. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the assault as ‘terrible’ while suggesting that errors may have occurred.
‘We understand that things are getting worse’
Niankin detailed how the two missiles landed approximately 100 meters apart in Sumy, which has a population of around 250,000.
The first missile impacted a conference center at the state university—also the site of their community theatre. After the initial strike, Niankin’s wife contacted him to inform him that she and their son were evacuating a nearby building to the shelter. Tragically, the second missile struck while they were en route, with the blast dislodging a door that landed on their son’s leg.
Fortunately, the child only suffered a bruise, but Niankin expressed concern over the psychological impact of the event on him.
“Most of the fatalities occurred after the second missile because so many people were outside,” he explained.
Casualties included several individuals riding a trolley bus that was passing by at the moment of the explosion.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” he lamented. “We are realizing that the situation is deteriorating.”
Rising civilian deaths
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that from January to March 2023, over 440 civilians lost their lives, and more than 2,200 were injured, marking a 47 percent increase compared to the same timeframe in 2022.
As April progresses, analysts suggest that these grim trends are likely to continue.
Just nine days prior to the tragic Sumy strikes, 20 people were killed in Kryvyi Rih due to a ballistic missile hitting a residential area, injuring many, including children.
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This attack was notably deadly for children, with nine youngsters among the deceased, including a nine-year-old child who was at a playground. Danielle Bell, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission’s head, remarked that it represented the highest number of child fatalities since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
“The trends and patterns of harm we’re observing are quite concerning,” she noted.
The missile strike in Sumy occurs shortly after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a meeting the Kremlin termed “extremely useful.”
In a statement defending its actions, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the use of two Iskander-M tactical missiles and claimed that over 60 Ukrainian soldiers were killed without presenting concrete evidence for these assertions.
While President Trump disapproved of the attack, stating it was “terrible” and implying a mistake had been made, he refrained from providing further clarification when pressed. He later expressed skepticism regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting a failure of leadership on his part that permitted the conflict to escalate.
European leaders have strongly condemned the strikes on Sumy, with Germany’s emerging chancellor Friedrich Merz labeling it a serious “war crime.”
A city near the front lines
Sumy has experienced attacks from Russian forces employing missiles, drones, and aerial bombs, especially following Ukraine’s unexpected counterattack into Russia’s Kursk region.
According to Niankin, previous strikes have primarily targeted military installations and vital electrical infrastructure; however, this incident marked the most lethal assault on civilians this year, as confirmed by officials in Ukraine.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, indicated that the missiles used were equipped with cluster munitions, which are notorious for their devastating aftermath.
International humanitarian law declares that military-focused attacks may be deemed unlawful if they cause indiscriminate or disproportionate harm to civilians.
In response, a UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission team is being dispatched to Sumy to collect testimonies and evidence from victims and witnesses.
Bell highlighted that civilian deaths have surged due to an “increased use of long-range weapons,” resulting in strikes on residential areas, schools, and healthcare facilities.
“We’ve observed a rise in attacks impacting medical facilities, including hospitals and clinics,” she stated.
An uptick in drone activity in Sumy
In the wake of the strike, Niankin and his wife surveyed the damage at their community theatre, which now lay in ruins. The roof had collapsed, and debris covered what was once the stage. They managed to salvage a few props and costumes from the dressing area that remained somewhat intact.
Niankin anticipates that some families in the area might decide to relocate to safer zones further west.
Nonetheless, he and his wife plan to stay, motivated by the need to support the local community and their elderly grandmother residing in the city. They feel a strong commitment to continue providing drama programs for children despite the risks.
“For us, remaining in Sumy embodies a social mission,” he expressed, though he harbored doubts about the area’s future safety.
After the catastrophic events of Sunday, Niankin hoped for a quieter Monday, but was quickly disillusioned. “Just an hour ago, Shahed drones struck a different part of the city,” he disclosed, describing witnessing the ominous smoke rising outside his window.
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