At least 34 people killed in Russian ballistic missile attack on Sumy

At least 34 people have been killed and 117 others injured—including 15 children—following a Russian missile strike in central Sumy, Ukrainian officials say.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault, describing it as a “terrible strike by Russian ballistic missiles” that struck “an ordinary city street, ordinary life.” He warned that without sustained international pressure, “Russia will continue to drag out this war.”

The attack occurred around 10:15 local time (08:15 BST), when two Iskander-variant ballistic missiles struck near Sumy State University and its congress centre.

Graphic images and videos from the scene show the devastating aftermath, with bodies lying in the streets. Among the dead were at least two children.

Ukrainian officials told the BBC that the missile strikes damaged 20 buildings, including four educational institutions, five apartment blocks, as well as cafes, shops, and ten cars and trams.

President Zelensky called for a firm international response, stating, “Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and air bombs. Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war. Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible.”

According to BBC Ukrainian, the congress centre at Sumy State University—one of the strike sites—is frequently used for children’s classes. Locals described it as an “educational hub for the entire city,” regularly rented out for courses, clubs, and workshops.

Officials in Sumy also said the missiles were loaded with cluster munitions, which are known to cause indiscriminate harm across a wide area. The blasts left cars burning and trees bent at the impact sites, where many of the casualties occurred.

One local resident, Nataliia, was driving children to a shelter when her car was hit by the second missile. “If we hadn’t moved to the shelter on time, we would have been in the car—and we would be dead,” she told the BBC.

Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, condemned the missile strike, calling it an act that "crosses any line of decency." He emphasized that this was exactly why U.S. President Donald Trump is "working hard to end this war."

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also denounced the attack, describing it as "horrific." He urged Russia to accept peace terms, stating, "President Zelensky has shown his commitment to peace. President Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions — as Ukraine has done."

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those sentiments, saying the strikes in Sumy underscore the pressing need to enforce a ceasefire on Russia. "Everyone knows: this war was initiated by Russia alone. And today, it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it — with blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump," Macron wrote on X.

Macron and Starmer have reportedly been coordinating efforts to form a “coalition of the willing” to help implement any future peace agreement in Ukraine.

The attack follows a recent high-level meeting between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. According to the Kremlin, the discussion lasted over four hours and focused on “aspects of a Ukrainian settlement.” Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described it as the third such meeting this year and called it "productive."