34 people killed, 117 injured as Russia fires ballistic missile at Ukraine

At least 34 people have been killed and 117 injured, including 15 children, in a Russian missile strike that hit the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy, Ukrainian authorities have said.

The attack, which occurred around 10:15 local time (08:15 BST), involved two Iskander-variant ballistic missiles that struck near Sumy State University and its congress centre. 

Shocking images from the scene show bloodied bodies lying in the streets, with authorities confirming that at least two children were among the dead.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that among the injured was a baby girl born this year, and that medical teams were working tirelessly. 

“The strike hit right in the heart of the city on Palm Sunday,” he said in his nightly video address. “Only completely deranged scum can do something like this.”

The Russian government has not issued any public statement in response to the strike.

Local officials told the BBC that the missiles damaged 20 buildings, including four educational institutions, five residential apartment blocks, as well as cafes and shops. 

Ten vehicles and several trams were also destroyed. According to officials in Sumy, the missiles were packed with cluster munitions, which spread deadly explosives over a wide area and caused vehicles to catch fire and nearby trees to splinter.

Residents say the congress centre, a known part of the university complex, is frequently used for children’s programmes. 

BBC Ukrainian reported that it functions as “an educational hub for the entire city” and is “very actively rented out for various courses, clubs, and master classes.”

Some of the most harrowing accounts came from survivors. Nataliia, who was driving children to a shelter at the time, said: “If we hadn’t moved to the shelter on time we would have been in the car and we would be dead.”

Svitlana Smirnova, 51, said she was returning from church with friends when the explosions occurred. 

“A friend of mine was injured in a bus which was hit here. She is seriously injured, she is in the hospital, was operated on, she is still unconscious. She was riding with her son who was also injured,” she said.

The strike drew swift condemnation from global leaders. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denounced the bombing as horrific. 

“President Zelensky has shown his commitment to peace, President Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions – as Ukraine has done.”

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French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack, saying it demonstrated the urgent need for a ceasefire. 

“Everyone knows: this war was initiated by Russia alone. And today, it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it – with blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump,” Macron said in a post on X.

Both Macron and Starmer have been involved in ongoing discussions about forming a “coalition of the willing” to enforce any future peace deal in Ukraine.

The missile attack occurred just two days after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. 

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