Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – More than 20 people were killed in a Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, officials said.
Officials said two ballistic missiles hit the heart of the city around 10:15 a.m. Videos posted on the official channel on the scene showed the bodies on the ground in debris and smoke near downtown Sumi.
“Our community suffered a horrible tragedy on this bright Palm Sunday,” Acting Mayor Artem Kobzar said in a statement on social media. “Unfortunately, we have known that more than 20 people have died.”
At least 21 people were killed in the attacks, citing preliminary findings, the attorney general's office said. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote on social media that 83 more people were injured, including seven children.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that rescue efforts were underway and said “dozens” were killed in a twin missile attack.
“According to preliminary information, dozens of civilians were killed and wounded. Only dirty scum can do this – taking the lives of ordinary people,” he said.
Zelenskyy also called for a global response to the attack. “The negotiations have never stopped ballistic missiles and air bombs. What is needed is the attitude towards Russia that terrorists deserve,” he said.
Less than a day on strike, top diplomats in Russia and Ukraine alleged to stop strikes on energy infrastructure in violation of a tentative U.S. broker agreement, underscoring the challenge of negotiations ending the three-year-old war.
Foreign ministers from both countries spoke at a separate event at the annual Antitala Diplomatic Forum, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a peace prospect.
“The Ukrainians attacked us from the very beginning, with maybe two or three exceptions,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
His Ukrainian rival Andrii Sybiha fiercely fought over the claim, saying on Saturday that Russia had launched “nearly 70 missiles, more than 2,200 (exploded) drones, and more than 6,000 bombs in Ukraine's missile aviation, mostly on civilians,” since agreeing to a limited strike.
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