In a terrifying new escalation of violence, Russia has launched a brutal missile strike on Ukraine, killing at least 21 people and injuring 83 others.
The attack, which occurred in Sumy—just a short distance from the Russian border—was an Iskander-M missile strike that struck a trolley bus and other civilian areas, leaving a scene of horror in its wake.
Mass Casualties and Scenes of Terror
The impact of the missile attack was immediate and catastrophic, as two massive explosions rocked the city center.
The blast left many people trapped and injured, some of whom were covered in blood and lying motionless on the streets.
The scale of the devastation was so intense that the mayor of Sumy confirmed that the death toll was expected to rise beyond 20.
Among the victims, it’s reported that at least one child was caught in the violence.
Horrific images, too graphic to publish, show the trolley bus engulfed in flames with victims still inside, and at least one car was also set ablaze with people trapped inside.
The Congress Centre in Sumy, part of the local university, was also hit by one of the missiles, further underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
A Day of Religious Significance Turned to Tragedy
The attack occurred on Palm Sunday, one of the most important religious holidays for Ukrainians, as many were attending church services and spending time with their families.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it a “terrible strike” by Russian missiles on an ordinary city street, where innocent people had been going about their daily lives.
He expressed his sorrow for the victims, saying that only a “scoundrel” could commit such an act.
Zelensky also urged the world to take stronger action against Russia, calling for a tougher international response to the ongoing violence.
He emphasized that this attack was part of a pattern of terror that Russia continues to inflict on civilians in Ukraine, making it clear that peace cannot be achieved while the aggressor is allowed to continue such attacks.
Human Rights and International Outrage
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, also condemned the missile strike, highlighting the irony that it happened on a day when families were enjoying a peaceful holiday, with children walking around the city.
Lubinets also pointed out the destruction of the regional Human Rights Protection Centre, which was located near the epicenter of the attack.
He described the attack as a deliberate and cynical act of terror designed to inflict maximum harm on civilians during a time of minimal protection.
Anatoliy Fedoruk, the mayor of Bucha, another city devastated by Russian forces earlier in the war, also reacted angrily to the attack, calling it an example of “continuous terror” that Russia has been unleashing on Ukraine.
He labeled Russia as a “terrorist state” and emphasized that each attack further proves that Russia is incapable of coexisting with the civilized world.
The Global Response and Continued Suffering
The international community is once again being urged to take swift action in response to Russia’s aggression.
Ukraine’s leaders and human rights advocates are calling for the world to stop standing by and allowing these atrocities to continue.
As the situation unfolds, the people of Sumy and other Ukrainian cities remain caught in the relentless violence of a war that has already claimed so many lives.
In the face of such horrific acts, the message is clear: the world must not remain silent in the face of this ongoing terror.
Ukraine’s leaders continue to fight for peace, but with each new strike, they remind the world that the cost of inaction is too high.