Local officials said Russian missile attacks killed at least 21 people in the northeastern Ukraine city of Sumy on Sunday.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Russia attacked the Sumi Center with ballistic missiles while the streets were filled with civilians enjoying Palm Sunday, a Christian celebration popular in Ukraine. Mr Clemento added that at least 20 people were injured.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video on social media, saying the consequences of the Sumy attack were only 18 miles from the Russian border. The video shows cars being smashed and burned, as well as dead bodies on the street. Firefighters and civilians tend to be injured when screams echo in the background.
“A strong reaction from the world is needed. Everyone from the United States, from Europe wants this war and killing to end,” Mr. Zelensky said in a message posted on the telegram. “Russia is seeking this terror accurately and is delaying the war.”
The strike came about a week after Russian missiles were attacked near a playground in the central city of Kryvyi Rih, killing 19 people, including nine children.
The United Nations said last week that 164 civilians were killed in Ukraine last month – a 50% increase from February and a 70% increase from the same period last year.
Ukrainian officials say Russia is not actually interested in the ceasefire despite the Trump administration’s efforts for its brokers.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Saturday that since the ceasefire talks began in Saudi Arabia last month, Russia “has only escalated its attacks on Ukrainian civilian objects and added missile terrorism, including strikes on energy facilities.”
“This is Russia’s response to all peace proposals,” Mr Sybiha told the state news agency. “They delayed, manipulated and continued to invade with their partners.”
