Ukraine: More than 30 deaths in Russian rocket strike against Sumy

In a severe Russian rocket strike against the city of Sumy in the northeast of Ukraine, more than 30 people were killed and dozens were injured. Two children are among the dead, President Wolodymyr Selenskyj said in the early afternoon at Telegram. He expressed his condolences to the relatives. There are 32 deaths. Among the 84 injuries are 8 children, the authorities announced. “Everyone gets the necessary help,” said Selenskyj. Many people were traveling in the city on Palm Sunday before Easter when the rockets hit. The attack triggered horror internationally.

The ballistic rockets had worn explosive devices with stray ammunition. So Russia wanted to meet the highest possible number of civilians, said Selenskyj’s Chancellor Andrij Jermak. Many people were also injured in the middle of the street, in cars and public transport as well as in houses, said Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko near Telegram. He accused Russia of a targeted attack on civilians. Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha spoke of a war crime.

The city’s authorities said that a crisis team had been set up. There was therefore damage to streets, houses, a training facility and several cars. Lifeless bodies on the streets, burning cars and severe devastation were seen in pictures.

Foreign Minister Sybiha spoke of the “absolute evil” on an important Christian holiday in a peaceful Ukrainian city. In communications on platform X, he and Selenskyj called for a determined reaction of the international allies. Sybiha criticized the fact that Russia did not agree to a US proposal on March 11 for a ceasefire in Ukraine.

“Instead, Russia expands its terror,” said Sybiha. He asked the western partners to equip Ukraine with additional air defense capacities and increase the pressure on Moscow. “Strength is the only language you understand and the only way to put an end to terrible terror,” he said.

In addition to the conviction of the Russian attack, western allies, including the EU and NATO, also had condolences and support. The French President Emmanuel Macron wrote at X that Russia did not want to comply with human life and war-regardless of international law or the diplomatic efforts of US President Trump.

Macron wrote strong measures to force Russia to force Russia. The British Prime Minister Keir Strandmer commented similarly.

On Saturday, Ukraine also shaked the death of one of the important battle pilots trained by the West. After the F-16 pilot’s death, the Russian military confirmed the shooting of such a fighter plane. The Russian air defense shot down an F-16, the Ministry of Defense said in Moscow without naming details about the place and time.