At least 31 people have been killed in a Russian missile strike on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Sumy, the interior minister has said. Follow the latest on the Ukraine war.
Sunday 13 April 2025 12:50, UK
Vladimir Putin is going to push as hard as he can, our international correspondent Diana Magnay says.
She says the strike on Sumy today is „one of the deadliest so far this year“ and comes just over a month after a limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began.
„It seems Vladimir Putin wants to keep fighting right up until the point when possibly he stops or possibly negotiations come further than they have now,“ Magnay says.
„But clearly he is going to push as hard as he can until that point – maximising the pressure.“
She says the pressure from Russia „continues unabated“.
Magnay also notes that both countries were meant to have agreed to a limited ceasefire about a month ago on energy infrastructure – but both sides accuse each other of continuing attacks.
„Today’s horrific attack comes just a few days after we saw US envoy Steve Witkoff arrive in St Petersburg to meet Putin,“ she adds.
Although she notes „we don’t know what the outcome of those talks were“.
French President Emmanuel Macron has commented on Russia’s strike on Sumy – and called the attack a „blatant disregard for human lives“.
He has also called for strong measures to impose a ceasefire on Russia.
Here is what he has said…
We have been reporting today on the Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Local officials said two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city at around 10.30am local time as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed rescue efforts are ongoing and he said „dozens“ had been killed in the double missile attack.
Here are some of the scenes emerging from the region today…
Sumy’s emergency service is reporting that 31 people have been killed, including two children, in the region.
Another 84 people have been injured, including 10 children.
Volodymyr Zelenkskyy has also issued a new statement issuing his condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed.
„It is very important for everyone in the world not to remain silent, not to remain indifferent,“ he said.
„Russian strikes deserve only condemnation. Pressure is needed on Russia to end the war and guarantee people’s safety.
„Without really strong pressure, without proper support from Ukraine, Russia will continue to drag out this war.“
He also said „it is already the second month that Putin has ignored America’s proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire.“
Over in eastern Ukraine, Russia has claimed it has captured the village of Yelyzavetivka, which sits in the Donetsk region.
Sky News has not been able to verify this battlefield report from Russia’s defence ministry.
For context: Russia’s military goal is to capture the entire eastern region of Ukraine.
It already controls all of Crimea, almost all of Luhansk, and part of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and the Kherson regions.
It also controls a sliver of the Kharkiv region.
We have an update from the state emergency service in Ukraine.
They now report 24 people have been killed in the strike on Sumy, including one child.
Another 84 people have been injured, including seven children.
Ukraine’s interior minister Ihor Klymenko has said at least 83 people have been wounded in the strike on Sumy.
He also confirmed earlier reports that at least 21 people had been killed (see post at 10.16am).
Klymenko said the victims were on the street, in vehicles, public transport and in buildings when the strike hit.
„Deliberate destruction of civilians on an important church feast day,“ he said.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack – one of the deadliest strikes on Ukraine this year – and called for a tough international reaction against Moscow.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a statement on the attack on Sumy this morning.
„Only scoundrels can act like this. Taking the lives of ordinary people,“ he wrote on Telegram.
He said „tough reaction from the world is needed“ following the strike by Russian ballistic missiles.
„Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war,“ he added.
„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.“
Ukraine’s state emergency service has provided an update in the last few moments on what is happening following the strike on Sumy.
They say around 21 people were killed, according to preliminary data, and at least 20 more are injured.
„People were injured right in the middle of the street, in cars, public transport, in houses,“ they said.
The emergency service said police have restricted access to the affected area and investigators and forensic experts are at the scene.
„Now every minute is important for the lives of the injured,“ they said in a statement.
This is not the first time Sumy has come under attack.
Last month, around 90 people were injured after Russia struck the region.
The strike hit on the day Russia was holding talks with the US in Saudi Arabia on a potential ceasefire.
Images are beginning to emerge showing the aftermath of Russia’s attack on Sumy.
Two ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city as local people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday.
The strike comes less than a day after Russia and Ukraine’s top diplomats accused each other of violating a tentative US-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.
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Ukraine war latest: At least 31 people killed and more than 80 injured in Russian missile attack on Ukrainian city – Sky News
