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Deadly Missile Strike on Sumy Leaves 32 Dead

On Sunday, a missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy resulted in the deaths of at least 32 individuals, according to official reports. The tragic event unfolded as residents gathered to observe Palm Sunday, with two ballistic missiles striking central Sumy around 10:15 a.m. local time.

Footage and images shared on official channels depicted the grim aftermath, showcasing lines of black body bags along the roadside and victims wrapped in metallic blankets amid the wreckage. Emergency responders were seen battling flames engulfing destroyed vehicles while searching through the debris of damaged structures.

Acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, expressed his sorrow over the incident, stating on social media, “On this bright Palm Sunday, our community has suffered a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we already know of more than 20 deaths.” The casualties from the missile strike included two children, as reported by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, which also indicated that 84 others were injured, including 10 minors.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that rescue operations were in progress, noting that “dozens” had perished from the missile assault. He condemned the attack as one committed by “filthy scum,” emphasizing that such brutality was aimed at innocent civilians.

This attack on Sumy marks the second large-scale assault on civilians within a week, following a missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, the president’s hometown, which resulted in approximately 20 fatalities, including nine children. Zelenskyy called for an international response to this act of aggression, arguing that discussions had failed to deter such attacks, and urging for a more robust stance towards Russia.

In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron underscored the necessity of imposing a ceasefire on Russia, asserting that it is solely responsible for the ongoing conflict. “Everyone knows it is Russia alone that wants this war,” he stated, expressing concern over the nation’s disregard for human life and international law.

Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, another missile strike impacted a kindergarten, breaking windows and damaging the structure, although no injuries were reported. This event occurred less than a day after a diplomatic exchange between Russia and Ukraine’s foreign ministers, where both sides accused each other of breaching a tentative U.S.-brokered truce intended to pause strikes on energy facilities, highlighting the complexities of negotiating an end to the enduring conflict.

During discussions at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attributed blame to Ukraine, claiming ongoing attacks since the beginning of the war, while his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, vehemently rejected the assertion, detailing the extensive missile and drone attacks launched by Russia against Ukrainian civilians in recent weeks.

Source
www.cbc.ca