SUMY, UKRAINE — A missile strike on a civilian bus in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed at least 31 people, including two children, early Sunday morning, according to local authorities.
The strike occurred around 7:00 a.m. on Palm Sunday, as families moved through the city. Video footage from the scene showed a bus engulfed in flames, nearby vehicles ablaze, and trees charred by the explosion. Bodies covered in foil blankets were seen lying at a busy intersection as bystanders and emergency responders worked in chaos.
“Terrible Tragedy,” Says Mayor
Sumy Mayor Artem Kobzar confirmed the death toll and described the incident as a “tragedy.”
“On this bright day of Palm Sunday, our community suffered a terrible tragedy,” he wrote on Telegram. “The enemy launched a missile strike on civilians. Unfortunately, more than 20 deaths are already known.”
Officials later confirmed that at least 83 people were injured, including 10 children. The missile is believed to have been a Russian Iskander-M.
Civilians Caught in the Blast
Surveillance and smartphone footage captured the moment of the explosion, with pedestrians scrambling for cover. The blast shattered windows, triggered car alarms, and left a trail of destruction across the area.
A woman was seen kneeling beside a body, embracing the victim while rescue workers attempted to cordon off the area.
Tensions Rise Amid Ceasefire Violations
The strike came just one day after former U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were “going fine,” despite acknowledging his frustrations with the slow progress.
“There’s a point at which you just have to either put up or shut up,” Trump said on Saturday. “But I think it’s going fine.”
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded sharply following Sunday’s attack.
“Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war,” Zelensky said. “Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible. Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and air bombs. We need the kind of attitude towards Russia that a terrorist deserves.”
Ceasefire Agreement in Doubt
The incident highlights growing tensions over the U.S.-brokered 30-day ceasefire agreement announced last month. Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of violating the terms.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of daily attacks on Russian territory, while Russia itself has been charged with striking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and violating ceasefire terms.
Russian officials said Ukraine had launched two attacks in the last 24 hours on energy infrastructure in Belgorod, a Russian region bordering Ukraine.
Previous: Attack Killed Children in Zelensky’s Hometown
Just last week, a Russian missile killed 18 people, including nine children, when it hit a playground in President Zelensky’s hometown.
Sumy, a city of around 250,000 residents located near Ukraine’s northeastern border with Russia, has suffered multiple air strikes since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
