SUMY, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy as individuals gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing no less than 34 individuals, officers stated, within the second large-scale assault to say civilian lives in simply over per week.
The 2 ballistic missiles hit round 10:15 a.m., officers stated. Photos from the scene confirmed traces of black physique baggage on the aspect of the highway, whereas extra our bodies have been seen wrapped in foil blankets among the many particles. Video footage additionally confirmed hearth crews combating to extinguish the shells of burned-out automobiles among the many rubble from broken buildings.
The useless included two youngsters, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine stated in an announcement. An additional 117 individuals have been wounded, together with 15 youngsters, it stated.
“Solely filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of extraordinary individuals,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated. In an announcement on social media, he stated the primary strike hit buildings belonging to a metropolis college, whereas the second exploded above road stage.
The top of the Ukrainian president’s workplace, Andriy Yermak, stated the strike additionally used cluster munitions in an try to kill as many individuals as doable. The Related Press was unable to confirm the declare.
The assault on Sumy adopted a lethal April 4 missile strike on Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih that killed some 20 individuals, together with 9 youngsters.
Zelenskyy referred to as for a worldwide response to the assault. “Talks have by no means stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s wanted is an perspective towards Russia {that a} terrorist deserves,” he stated.
Different world leaders additionally condemned the assault, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying that it undermined Washington-led peace talks between the 2 sides.
“Everybody is aware of: This struggle was initiated by Russia alone. And right this moment, it’s clear that Russia alone chooses to proceed it — with blatant disregard for human lives, worldwide legislation and the diplomatic efforts” of U.S. President Trump, he wrote in an announcement.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, two ladies, ages 62 and 68, and a 48-year-old man have been killed in Russian assaults on the Kherson area, native Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin stated. One other individual was killed throughout Russian shelling on Ukraine’s Donetsk area, Gov. Vadym Filashkin stated.
The mayor of the Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, stated a Russian strike hit one of many metropolis’s kindergartens, shattering home windows and damaging the constructing’s facade. No casualties have been reported.
Spring offensive fears regardless of peace talks
The strikes come a day after Russia and Ukraine’s senior diplomats accused one another of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered deal to pause strikes on power infrastructure, underscoring the challenges of negotiating an finish to the three-year struggle.
The 2 nations’ international ministers spoke at separate occasions on the annual Antalya Diplomacy Discussion board a day after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to debate peace prospects.
“The Ukrainians have been attacking us from the very starting, each passing day, possibly with two or three exceptions,” Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, including that Moscow would offer the U.S., Turkey and worldwide our bodies with an inventory of Kyiv’s assaults throughout the previous three weeks.
His Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, contested that declare, saying Saturday that Russia had launched virtually 70 missiles, over 2,200 exploding drones and greater than 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, “principally at civilians” since agreeing to the restricted pause on strikes.
Russian forces maintain the benefit in Ukraine, and Kyiv has warned that Moscow is planning a contemporary spring offensive to ramp up strain on its foe and enhance its negotiating place.
Ukraine has endorsed a broader U.S. ceasefire proposal, however Russia has successfully blocked it by imposing far-reaching circumstances. European governments have accused Putin of dragging his ft.
Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s particular envoy to Ukraine and Russia, stated the Sumy assault crossed “any line of decency” and that the White Home remained dedicated to ending the battle.
“There are scores of civilian useless and wounded. As a former army chief, I perceive concentrating on, and that is flawed,” he stated.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to as the assault “horrifying” and stated it provided “a tragic reminder” of why the administration was making an attempt to finish the struggle in favor of “a simply and sturdy peace.”
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Related Press journalists Volodymr Yuchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.
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Comply with AP’s protection of the struggle in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
