At least 20 individuals have lost their lives due to a Russian ballistic missile strike on the center of Sumy, a city in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian interior minister.
In the aftermath of the attack, eighty-three people sustained injuries in the city, which is located near the Russian border.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned this incident—one of the most lethal assaults on Ukraine this year—and advocated for a strong international response against Moscow.
“Only monsters can behave this way, taking the lives of innocent civilians,” he expressed on social media.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that the victims were found on the streets, in vehicles, on public transport, and inside buildings at the time of the strike.
“This was a calculated attack against civilians on a significant religious holiday,” he remarked.
Sumy, situated approximately 50 km from the Russian border, has faced heightened bombardment from Russian forces in recent weeks.
The city has been under immense pressure since Moscow drove much of Ukraine’s military back from its Kursk region across the border.
“There are many fatalities today as a result of the missile strike,” acting mayor Artem Kobzar stated via social media, noting that “the enemy has targeted civilians once more.”
The assault is among the deadliest incidents in Ukraine this year (Image: Sumy Regional Military Administration)
(Image: Sumy Regional Military Administration)
Trump: Talks on Russia-Ukraine peace deal ‘progressing well’
The recent strikes occurred after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that negotiations aimed at concluding the war in Ukraine might be progressing positively, yet stated, “there comes a time when you have to either act or be silent.”
The day before, Mr. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Russia and urged it to “make progress” on reaching an agreement.
“I think negotiations between Ukraine and Russia might be going well, and you’ll learn more soon,” Mr. Trump commented to reporters aboard Air Force One.
“There’s a moment when you must either act or refrain from talking, and we will see what unfolds, but I believe things are going smoothly.”
On Friday, Mr. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the pursuit of a peace agreement.
These discussions took place amid a period when U.S.-Russia dialogue, aimed at establishing a ceasefire prior to a potential peace agreement, seemed to have stalled due to disagreements over the conditions for halting hostilities altogether.
Mr. Trump has indicated growing impatience and has threatened to impose secondary sanctions on nations purchasing Russian oil if he perceives that Moscow is delaying a deal.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commended Mr. Trump for what he claimed was a deeper understanding of the Ukraine conflict than that of any other Western leader.
“To address the fundamental causes of any conflict, including the one in Ukraine, is the only path toward resolution and lasting peace. We must address the root causes,” Mr. Lavrov stated at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in southern Turkey.
“President Trump was the first and appears to be the only Western leader to consistently assert that involving Ukraine in NATO was a substantial mistake. This is one of the fundamental issues we’ve referenced repeatedly.”
Mr. Putin, who initiated Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has long viewed Ukraine’s alignment with the West, including its aspirations to join NATO, as a threat to Russian interests.
In relation to a mutual agreement between Ukraine and Russia to cease strikes on each other’s energy facilities, Mr. Lavrov remarked that Moscow has adhered to its commitments, while accusing Kyiv of attacking Russian energy infrastructure nearly every day.
“I provided our Turkish counterparts, including Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, with the same details we shared with the Americans, the UN, and the OSCE—a list of incidents detailing Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy facilities over the past three weeks.”
