Russia defended its missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed at least 34 people and injured over 117, claiming that the strike targeted a gathering of senior Ukrainian military officials. Russia’s Defence Ministry stated that two Iskander-M ballistic missiles hit the location and killed over 60 Ukrainian soldiers.
The attack, one of the deadliest of the war, occurred on Palm Sunday and killed at least 34 people and injured over 117 others, including children. The Kremlin has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the Russian military “only strike military targets,” while accusing Ukraine of using civilians as “human shields” by allegedly holding military meetings in populated areas.
The strike drew widespread condemnation from global leaders and has been described by Ukraine and several Western officials as a war crime. French officials urged tougher sanctions, while Germany’s incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz supported sending long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. However, U.S. President Donald Trump offered a more reserved response, describing the attack as “terrible” but suggesting that Russia “made a mistake.”
