SUMY:TwoRussianballisticmissiles slammed into the heart of the northern Ukrainian city ofSumyon Sunday (Apr 13), killing 34 people and wounding 117 in the deadliest strike on Ukraine this year, officials said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyydemanded a tough international response against Moscow over theattack, which came with US President Donald Trump's push to rapidly end the war struggling to make a breakthrough.
Dead bodies were strewnon the groundin the middle of a city street neara destroyed bus and burnt-out carsin a video posted by Zelenskyy on social media.
"Only scoundrels can act like this. Taking the lives of ordinary people," he said, noting that the attack had come on Palm Sunday when some people were going to church.
"You know, the people who are fighting against us always say that they are Orthodox (Christian) believers, that they believe in God, but we have experienced first-hand terrorism today. I have no words," said 27-year old PhD student Yevhen, a local resident who declined to give his surname.
The leaders of Britain,Germanyand Italy condemned the attack.
"These attacks show just what Russia's supposed readiness for peace is worth," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on social media.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement expressed condolences for the victims and said the attack was a "tragic reminder of why President Trump and his Administration are putting so much time and effort into trying to end this war."
Zelenskyy, in an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes" set to air later on Sunday, urged Trump to visit Ukraine.
"Please come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children, destroyed or dead," Zelenskyy said in a video clip the program posted on social media.
Under Trump's administration, US officials have held separate rounds of talks with Kremlin and Kyiv officials to try to move toward a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
Russianauthorities did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Russiadenies targeting civilians but thousands have been killed and injured in its invasion of Ukraine.
It followed amissilestrikein the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's hometown and far from the ground war's front lines in the east and south, earlier this month that killed 20 people, including nine children.
Sumy, with a population of around a quarter of a million and located just over 25 km from theRussianborder, became a garrison city whenKyiv's forces launched an incursion into Russia last August that has since been largely repelled.
Sumy's acting mayor, Artem Kobzar, announced three days of mourning for the victims starting from Monday.
The people who were caught in Sunday'sstrikewere out on the street or inside cars, public transport and buildings when themissiles hit, InteriorMinisterIhorKlymenkosaid.
"Deliberate destruction of civilians on an important church feast day," he wrote.
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said themissiles contained cluster munitions. "TheRussians are doing this to kill as many civilians as possible," he said.
Maryana Bezuhla, an outspoken Ukrainian lawmaker known for her sharp public criticism of military commanders, suggested on the Telegram app that the attack had taken place due to information about a gathering of soldiers leaking out.
Reuters was not able to verify that information.
Russia launched a full-scaleinvasionof Ukraine in February 2022 and currently holdsnearly20 percent of theneighbouringcountry's territory in the east and south.Russianforces have been slowly advancing in theeast.
'SO-CALLED DIPLOMACY'
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha saidKyivwas "sharing detailed information about this war crime with all of our partners and international institutions".
The International Criminal Court in The Hague, which Ukraine officially joined this year, is conducting investigations into high-profile cases of allegedwar crimesin the conflict.
Andriy Kovalenko, a security official who runsUkraine'sCentre for Countering Disinformation, noted that thestrikecame after a visit toRussiaby US envoy Steve Witkofffor talks with top officials including President Vladimir Putin.
"Russia is building all this so-called diplomacy ... aroundstrikes on civilians," he wrote on Telegram.
Under Trump's administration, US officials have held separate rounds of talks with Kremlin andKyivofficials to try to move towards a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to pausestrikes on each other's energy facilities last month, but both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaking the moratorium.
Witkoff, Trump's special envoy,held talkswith Putin on Friday in St Petersburg on the search for a Ukraine peacedeal.Trumptold Russia to "get moving".
In the aftermath of Sunday'sSumystrike, Zelenskyy called on the United Statesand Europeto respond robustlyto what he described asRussianterrorism.
"Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war. Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible. Talks have never stopped ballisticmissiles and aerial bombs," he wrote.
Russia's defence ministryaccusedUkraineon Saturday of having carriedout five attacks onRussianenergy infrastructure over the previous day in what it called a violation oftheUS-brokered moratorium on suchstrikes.
