A minimum of 31 individuals killed, 80 injured, in Russian assault on Ukrainian metropolis
A Russian ballistic missile strike killed at the least 31 individuals and injured greater than 80 others within the Ukrainian metropolis of Sumy on Sunday, based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking one of many deadliest single assaults on the nation this 12 months.
The strike got here amid rising tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, as each side accuse one another of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered moratorium on assaults focusing on power infrastructure, whereas diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. have yielded few outcomes.
Zelenskyy condemned the newest assault, and accused Russia of “taking the lives of odd individuals” noting that the assault came about on Palm Sunday as individuals attended church companies.
“Russian missiles hit an odd metropolis avenue, odd life, residential buildings,” he posted on X. “Solely filthy scum can act like this.”
The strikes coincided with ongoing diplomatic efforts by the U.S. which have notably excluded Ukraine
On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg for 4 hours of closed-door talks. The assembly got here after Donald Trump, on Fact Social, urged Witkoff to “get transferring” on a ceasefire to finish the “horrible and mindless warfare.”
Neither Moscow nor Witkoff, who later traveled to Oman for talks with Iran, disclosed particulars of the assembly. Zelenskyy has repeatedly insisted that his nation needs to be concerned in any talks relating to its future.
The Sumy assault has forged additional doubt on Russia’s willingness to pursue a real decision, whereas Zelenskyy known as on Europe and the U.S. to “reply firmly.”
“With out strain on Russia, peace is inconceivable,” Zelenskyy added.
However to date, efforts at diplomacy have fallen brief.
The 2 nations used a high-level convention in Turkey on Saturday to as soon as once more commerce accusations of violating a tentative U.S.-brokered deal to pause strikes on power infrastructure, with the 2 overseas ministers talking at separate occasions on the annual Antalya Diplomacy Discussion board.
“The Ukrainians have been attacking us from the very starting, each passing day, perhaps with two or three exceptions,” Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov stated, including that Moscow would offer the U.S., Turkey and worldwide our bodies with a listing of Kyiv’s assaults throughout the previous three weeks, and insisted Russia had caught to the phrases of the deal.
His Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, contested that declare, saying Russia had launched “nearly 70 missiles, over 2,200 drones, and over 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, principally at civilians,” since agreeing to the restricted pause on strikes.
“This clearly reveals to the world who desires peace and who desires warfare,” he stated.
Russia presently holds about 20% of Ukraine’s territory because it launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
