A Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy has killed 34 people, including two children, and injured 117, prompting global outrage. Two ballistic missiles struck the city centre near Sumy State University and the congress centre on Sunday morning, leaving scenes of devastation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack as “horrifying,” while German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz labelled it a “serious war crime.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky urged U.S. President Donald Trump to visit the country before pursuing further negotiations. Global leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, EU’s Ursula von der Leyen, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, denounced the attack and demanded stronger action.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated that targeting civilians violates international law. As Russian forces amass near the border, this marks the deadliest civilian attack in Ukraine this year, underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire and lasting peace.
