Russian missile strike in Ukraine’s Sumy leaves 34 dead and over 80 injured

• Two Russian missiles struck Sumy, Ukraine, killing at least 34 people and injuring over 80. This marks the deadliest attack since September 2024.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling for global action and accusing Russia of deliberate terror.
• U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg and President Donald Trump are working to end the conflict, with ongoing but challenging contacts with Kremlin officials.

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At least 34 people are dead and more than 80 injured after two Russian missiles struck the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, April 13, making it the deadliest attack since September 2024. Sumy, located about 18 miles from Russia’s Kursk region, has been frequently targeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said there were “dozens of dead and wounded civilians,” accusing Russia of deliberate terror and calling for a strong reaction from the U.S., Europe and the world.

“It is crucial that the world does not stay silent or indifferent. Russian strikes deserve nothing but condemnation,” Zelenskyy said.

Igor Shapoval, head of Sumy’s Ukrainian Red Cross branch, told the BBC that “everyone was helping” with recovery efforts following the strikes.

Shapoval said he and his crew “carried out the wounded,” whose injuries varied in severity. He added, “But we were not the only ones working. The State Emergency Service was working and the military was working.”

American Reaction

Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy for Ukraine-Russia, said the attack “crosses any line of decency.”

Writing on social media, Kellogg described the ballistic missile strikes as “wrong” and reiterated U.S. efforts to broker an end to the conflict: “It is why President Trump is working hard to end this war.”

On Friday, April 11, President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Moscow, urging the country in a social media post to “get moving” on reaching a deal. “Too many people are dying, thousand a week, in a terrible and senseless war,” he wrote.

Kremlin’s response

On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media that contacts with Trump’s team were proceeding “very well.” However, he added that instant results were “impossible,” blaming the damage done to bilateral relations under the Biden administration.