On April 13, 2025, a day meant for peace and reflection during Palm Sunday celebrations, the Ukrainian city of Sumy, just 25 kilometers from the Russian border, was struck by a horrific double missile attack. This assault, the deadliest of the year, claimed 35 lives and left 117 injured, plunging Ukraine into grief. The strikes targeted the bustling city center, where families, carrying willow branches for the Christian holiday, were heading to church or moving through daily routines. Among the victims were two children, and 15 others injured were minors, underscoring the indiscriminate brutality of the attack.
At approximately 10:15 a.m., two Russian ballistic missiles, identified as Iskander-M variants, hit Sumy. The first struck near Sumy State University’s conference center, a vibrant hub for community activities, destroying buildings and setting vehicles ablaze. Moments later, a second missile landed 200 meters away on Pokrovska Street, catching a crowded trolleybus and pedestrians in its blast. Ukrainian officials reported the possible use of cluster munitions, designed to maximize civilian casualties, with shrapnel tearing through the area. Dashcam footage captured the chaos: an orange flash, plumes of smoke, and people fleeing in panic. A university building, cafes, and apartments were reduced to rubble, with bodies strewn across the streets, some covered in foil blankets by rescuers.
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Summy Attack Video
Earlier today, Russia targeted the center of Sumy, in western Ukraine, with two 9M723K1 Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles, striking two buildings reportedly used by Ukrainian military personnel.
— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) April 13, 2025
Unfortunately, the attack resulted in the deaths of at least 21 civilians and… pic.twitter.com/81djcOsCYZ
Russia claimed the strike targeted a military meeting, but Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned it as a deliberate act of terror against civilians. Sumy’s acting mayor, Artem Kobzar, declared three days of mourning, calling the attack a “terrible tragedy” for the community. The assault followed a pattern of escalating Russian strikes, coming just days after a deadly attack on Kryvyi Rih. International leaders, including the UK’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron, condemned the violence, urging a ceasefire. As rescue efforts continued amidst the devastation, Ukraine called for a stronger global response to halt such atrocities.
Key Points: Sumy’s Palm Sunday Attack, April 13, 2025
- Location and Timing: Double missile strike hit Sumy, Ukraine, a city 25 km from Russia, at ~10:15 a.m. on Palm Sunday.
- Casualties: Deadliest attack of 2025; 35 killed, 117 injured, including 2 children dead and 15 minors wounded.
- Attack Details:
- Two Iskander-M ballistic missiles struck the city center.
- First missile hit near Sumy State University’s conference center, damaging buildings and vehicles.
- Second missile, 200 meters away on Pokrovska Street, struck a trolleybus and pedestrians, possibly with cluster munitions.
- Victims: Civilians, including mothers, teachers, and children carrying willow branches for Palm Sunday.
- Damage: University building, cafes, apartments destroyed; streets littered with rubble and bodies.
- Russian Claim: Strike targeted a military meeting.
- Ukrainian Response: President Zelenskyy called it a deliberate civilian attack; Sumy’s mayor declared three days of mourning.
- International Reaction: Condemnations from UK’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron; calls for ceasefire.
- Context: Followed recent deadly attack on Kryvyi Rih, part of escalating Russian strikes.
- Aftermath: Ongoing rescue efforts; Ukraine demands stronger global action.
