Russia Strikes Sumy City Center, Killing 3 and Injuring Dozens
A Russian rocket attack struck the center of Sumy on Monday morning, killing at least three people and injuring 16 others in what Ukrainian officials described as a targeted strike on civilian areas.
The attack occurred shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, according to regional authorities, and hit residential streets in the city’s central district. Among the injured are several children, officials said. Rescue operations continued into the afternoon as emergency crews worked to clear debris and treat the wounded.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted an image on social media showing firefighters responding to the scene, where a fire truck stood amid the rubble of damaged buildings. He called the strike “fully deliberate” and accused Russian forces of continuing to attack civilians under the guise of ongoing diplomatic engagements.
One of the rockets, fired from a multiple launch rocket system, failed to detonate and was later found embedded in the wall of a ninth-floor apartment, according to the Sumy regional administration. The discovery raised renewed concerns about the widespread use of cluster-capable munitions and the long-term risk posed by unexploded ordnance in residential areas.
The incident follows a series of recent attacks in Sumy that have drawn condemnation from both Ukrainian officials and international observers.
In April, a Russian airstrike during Palm Sunday services killed 35 people, including several children. The following month, a drone strike hit a civilian bus in the region, killing members of a single family.
Sumy, located roughly 25 miles from the Russian border, has experienced a sharp rise in attacks in recent weeks. Ukrainian military officials have reported as many as 100 shellings in a single day. Russia has also claimed advances in the region, including the capture of villages such as Oleksiivka, prompting evacuations across several settlements.
Ukrainian officials have characterized the intensified shelling as part of a broader strategy to displace civilians and undermine morale. They say the targeting of infrastructure and residential areas represents a calculated effort to sow fear and disrupt daily life.
President Zelenskyy reiterated calls for stronger international support, including increased military assistance and additional sanctions on Moscow.
