What began as a peaceful Palm Sunday morning in the Ukrainian city of Sumy quickly turned into one of the deadliest attacks in recent months.
Russia launched a brutal missile strike that tore through a quiet street, striking a trolley bus and a city center filled with civilians going about their day.
The double Iskander-M missile strike left at least 32 people dead and more than 80 injured.
The blast scenes were horrific—bodies covered in blood, smoke rising from burning vehicles, and cries for help echoing through the streets.
Among the victims was at least one child, caught in the chaos on what should have been a holy and reflective day.
Fires, Destruction, and Sheer Panic
The impact of the missiles was devastating. Photos from the scene—too graphic to publish—showed the charred remains of the trolley bus with victims still trapped inside.
One car was ablaze with people unable to escape.
The Congress Centre at Sumy University, a place of learning and community, was among the buildings hit.
Residents and emergency services were left scrambling amid the carnage.
The entire city centre was turned into a bloody and smoke-filled war zone, just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump commented optimistically about potential peace negotiations with Russia.
Ukraine Reacts in Grief and Fury
Andriy Yermak, who heads Ukraine’s Presidential Office, confirmed the attack, describing it as a direct missile strike on civilians.
The acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, echoed the sentiment, calling the attack a “terrible tragedy” on a day meant for spiritual reflection.
“More than 20 deaths are already known,” he said shortly after the strike.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also issued a powerful response, condemning the attack as a cruel act of terror. “Only a scoundrel can act like this,” he said.
“People were going to church, living their normal lives. And Russia responded with missiles.”
Zelensky called for a “tough reaction from the world,” emphasizing that peace won’t come from dialogue alone—it requires pressure on the aggressor.
A City Shattered, and a Call for Global Action
Ukraine’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, described the strike as “cynicism of the highest level.”
Not only did it target civilians on a religious holiday, but one of the missiles also destroyed the regional Human Rights Protection Centre—highlighting just how deeply personal and symbolic this strike was.
“This was no accident,” Lubinets said. “It’s a calculated strategy of terror.”
He pleaded for the international community not to turn away or remain silent.
Anatoliy Fedoruk, mayor of the war-ravaged city of Bucha, delivered one of the starkest messages yet: “Russia is incapable of existing alongside the civilized world. It only knows destruction and death.”
What Comes Next?
With the world watching, Ukraine is hoping for more than just sympathy—they’re calling for concrete, urgent action.
While talks of peace continue in diplomatic circles, strikes like the one in Sumy serve as chilling reminders of the human cost of inaction.
As Ukraine continues to plead for support and protection, the question remains—how will the world respond?