Russia ballistic missile strike kills dozens in Ukraine's Sumy, officials say

Officials claim that a ballistic missile strike by Russia kills dozens in Sumy, Ukraine. Sumy, Ukraine – April 13, 2025

A devastating Russian ballistic missile strike has killed dozens and left many more injured in the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday. The attack, which took place early in the morning, is one of the deadliest incidents in recent months as the war between Russia and Ukraine drags into its third year.

Local authorities report that at least 38 people have been confirmed dead, with over 80 others injured—many critically—after what is believed to be a series of short-range ballistic missiles hit civilian infrastructure, including a residential complex, a shopping center, and a railway station.

The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that the strike involved Iskander missiles, which are known for their high precision and powerful warheads. According to Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat, the missiles were launched from Russian territory and reached Sumy within minutes, giving little to no time for warning sirens to sound or civilians to take shelter.

“This was a deliberate attack on civilian targets,” said Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, the governor of Sumy Oblast. We are still rescuing individuals from the debris. The true scope of this tragedy has only begun to become clear to a large number of families who are still grieving loved ones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack in a statement released from Kyiv. Zelenskyy stated, "Russia continues its campaign of terror against our people." The entire world must respond with force and unity. We won't be shattered. Videos and images from the scene showed chaos and destruction, with entire apartment blocks reduced to rubble and emergency services working around the clock to rescue survivors. Emergency calls for blood donations and medical supplies from all over the country have overwhelmed the region's hospitals. The strike comes amid a broader escalation in hostilities across eastern and northern Ukraine. In recent weeks, Russian forces have intensified missile and drone attacks, targeting energy infrastructure, transportation networks, and urban centers.

The strike on Sumy may have strategic significance, according to military analysts, as the city is close to the northeastern border and is a crucial logistics hub for Ukrainian forces. However, there were no reports of military installations being among the targets, supporting Ukraine's claim that the strike was primarily directed at civilians. Rapid international condemnation followed. The strike was referred to in a statement by the European Union as "a war crime," and the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the attack was “yet another example of Russia’s disregard for international law and human life.”

The Russian Defense Ministry issued a brief statement in Moscow stating that "military command centers and foreign mercenary positions" in Sumy had been destroyed with "high-precision weapons." However, there is no evidence to back up those claims, and Ukrainian officials have categorically denied that there was any military presence in the hit areas. The UN Security Council has called for an emergency meeting to address the incident, and humanitarian organizations are urging immediate support for the thousands affected by the strike.

The day was marked by grief, shock, and rage for Sumy residents. “I lost my husband and my son in an instant,” said 42-year-old Yulia Kovalenko, standing beside the ruins of her apartment block. "Why is the world allowing this to occur?" As search and rescue operations continue, the death toll may rise. For the purpose of future war crimes proceedings, officials in Ukraine have pledged to investigate and document every aspect of the strike. They are also urging the international community to impose more severe sanctions on Russia and increase the amount of military aid given to Ukraine. The Sumy missile strike serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a renewed push toward peace—however distant that goal may seem.