Russians kill at least 35 people in Sumy city center with two ballistic missile strikes on Palm Sunday (updated)

Russian ballistic missile strikes killed and injured civilians in the attack on the city center of Sumy on the morning of Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, according to Artem Kobzar , acting Mayor of Sumy and social media.

“Many fatalities have been reported due to the missile strike… The enemy has struck civilians again,” Kobzar wrote.

Reports on social media suggest that the strike hit the city center. BBC reporters on the ground in Ukraine reported that two Russian Iskander missiles hit the area around Sumy State University.

Ukrainian authorities told the BBC that 20 buildings were damaged, including four educational institutions, 10 cars and trams, cafes, shops, and five apartment buildings.

The emergency service deployed “headquarters” and psychologists to assist the survivors and victims.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) determined that the strikes were carried out by the Russian 112th and 448th missile brigades. They struck the city of Sumy with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the territory of Russia’s Voronezh and Kursk oblasts, respectively.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, stated that the missiles were equipped with cluster munitions.

Serhii Kryvosheienko, Head of the Sumy City Military Administration, reported that the second Russian ballistic strike caused a high number of fatalities and injuries in the missile attack.

“Early assessments indicate that most civilians died due to these deadly fragments. The blast occurred roughly 200 meters from the initial strike, in an area with residential buildings, educational facilities, and shops,” he wrote. According to Kryvosheienko, the nature of the strike indicates a deliberate attack on civilian infrastructure and people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to Russian strikes, reminding that Russia hit the center of Sumy “on the day when people go to church—Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.”

“The United States, Europe, everyone in the world who wants an end to this war and murders. Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war. Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible […]. Such an attitude towards Russia is needed as a terrorist deserves,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that “talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and air bombs”.

Later, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine updated the death toll . As of 6 pm, it has risen to 34, with 117 people injured, including 15 children. On April 14, the Sumy Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that the number had been increased to 35.

Oleh Strilka, spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy Oblast, told the national joint 24/7 newscast that as of the morning of April 14, the number of people injured in the Russian missile strikes had risen to 119, including 15 children. Thirty-four people were killed, including seven children.

“It is crucial that the world does not remain silent or indifferent. Russian strikes deserve nothing but condemnation. There must be pressure on Russia to end the war and guarantee security for people,” the president stated.

The missile strikes in Sumy came after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on April 12. 

Ukraine’s top counter-disinformation official,  Andriy Kovalenko, addressed the meeting between Witkoff and Putin after the missile attack in Sumy, saying: “Russia builds all its so-called diplomacy and racketeering around attacks on civilians.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reacted to the strike, saying: “Launching such an attack on a major Christian holiday is absolute evil.” 

Sybiha also criticized Russia for rejecting a US ceasefire proposal and urged Ukraine’s partners to step up pressure on Moscow.

“Strength is the only language they can understand and the only way to put an end to the horrific terror,” he said.

On April 9, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine needs at least 10 Patriot systems. 

“Today, the world lacks only political decisions to protect lives – not the systems themselves. There are systems in the world. There are even enough Patriots to guarantee protection from Russian terror once and for all. But this depends on decisions by politicians and partners,” he stated then. 

US President Donald Trump claimed Russia “made a mistake” when it struck the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday. He did not specify who provided him with this information about the mistake. 

When asked to clarify what the President meant by Russia’s “mistake”, Trump replied: “They made a mistake. I believe it was — look, you’re gonna ask them”.

On February 6, 2025, Donald Trump authorized measures targeting ICC officials involved in investigations of US citizens or those of allied nations. 

ZMINA continues to report on ongoing international crimes in the Sumy Oblast.