Under attack from Russian missiles launched into Sumy in northeast Ukraine this year has been what officials are terming as one of the deadliest single attacks against Ukrainian territory this year, killing at least 34 and injuring more than 50 others.
Beginning early Saturday morning, violence broke out against civilian infrastructure including homes buildings, local markets and power substations, according to Ukrainian Emergency services. Video footage from the scene depicted large craters with burning wreckage while rescue workers removed survivors from rubble while people shook by shelling gathered nearby.
“This is an horrific and deliberate act of terror against our people,” stated Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, regional governor of Sumy. “Entire households have now been uprooted – no one can bear to witness it.”
Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia’s strikes during a live address and demanded increased global pressure against Moscow for targeting civilians in war that has long crossed every moral boundary, according to Zelensky.
The Kremlin has not responded to this incident, even though Russian state media reported that it targeted military assets; an allegation Ukrainian officials refute.
Death tolls are expected to rise as rescue efforts continue throughout the evening, hospitals in Sumy are becoming overburdened with patients, and medical teams from neighboring areas have been sent.
United Nations and European leaders have expressed their discontent, calling this action by Russia “an obvious breach of international law”. Additionally, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell noted that any potential further restrictions against Russia were currently under discussion.
This attack marks a dramatic upsurge in escalation of conflict that began in February 2022 and is in its third year, as both sides gear up for new attacks amid failed diplomatic initiatives. Sumy, located only miles from Russia’s borders has long been the scene of attacks but never as large since this war escalated in 2022.
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