Firefighters are seen responding to a Russian missile strike in central Sumy, Ukraine on April 13, 2025, as part of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Tragically, the attack targeted residents attending church services on Palm Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 individuals, including two children, and injuring around 99 others, including 11 children. Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the strikes, attributing them to ballistic missiles and calling for a strong global response to combat such acts of terror.
The devastating attacks have sparked international outrage, with the Trump administration’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia condemning the assault as a blatant violation of decency. Footage from the scene depicts the destruction in Sumy’s city center, with buildings reduced to rubble and bodies covered in emergency blankets strewn across the ground. Ukrainian authorities suspect the use of cluster munitions in the attack, emphasizing the intentional targeting of civilians by the aggressors.
This heinous attack, considered one of the deadliest since 2023, underscores the urgent need for a united front against such atrocities. As efforts continue to broker peace in the region, the world stands in solidarity with the victims and calls for justice to be served.
Videos captured the moment a strike hit Sumy, with a loud noise accompanying large plumes of black smoke rising in the air. Footage shared by the region’s military administration also shows a Russian missile hitting a building with a deafening boom, triggering emergency sirens and causing people to run in panic. Some individuals are seen lying on the ground, including a woman with a blood-covered face in a separate video shared by Zelensky. The scenes also depict body bags on the ground and a damaged trolleybus possibly containing bodies, as emergency responders react to the attack.
Artyukh, the head of the military administration, later confirmed that most passengers on the trolleybus perished. In response to the incident, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, labeled it a “horrific example of Russia escalating attacks despite Ukraine’s acceptance of an unconditional ceasefire.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the need for “strong measures” to enforce a ceasefire.
Zelensky criticized Russian President Putin for disregarding America’s full and unconditional ceasefire proposal, citing Ukraine’s agreement to a 30-day ceasefire in March that Russia rejected. Following a four-hour meeting between top Trump administration official Steve Witkoff and Putin, President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the Ukraine-Russia situation, hinting at potential progress.
UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, strongly condemned the strike on Sumy’s city center, emphasizing the prohibition of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure under international humanitarian law. Recent Russian air attacks and missile strikes in the Sumy region have intensified as Ukrainian forces are pushed back from parts of Kursk, a neighboring Russian territory.
In the past day, Russian assaults in Ukraine’s Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions resulted in eight fatalities and at least 18 injuries. This report has been updated with additional details. To stay informed with more news and newsletters from CNN, sign up at CNN.com.
