Sumy,  Apr 14 (V7N) — A Russian ballistic missile strike has killed at least 32 people, including two children, and injured 84 others in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, according to local emergency services. The attack struck the city center, escalating fears in a region that has faced intensified bombardment in recent weeks.

The AFP reported the strike occurred as Ukrainians were preparing for Palm Sunday, a major Christian celebration marking Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Ukrainian officials condemned the attack as both brutal and symbolically offensive, targeting civilians on a sacred day of peace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the assault and demanded a “stern response” from both Europe and the United States. “This attack took place on Palm Sunday. People go to church on this day… only vile people can carry out attacks on such a day,” Zelensky stated in a social media post.

The strike comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss possible paths to ending the ongoing conflict. No outcomes from the meeting have been made public, but the timing of this latest strike casts a shadow over any hope of de-escalation.

The missile hit residential buildings, educational institutions, and city roads, emergency officials said, suggesting it was deliberately aimed at civilian areas.

International leaders have yet to formally respond to Zelensky’s call, but pressure is mounting for a renewed diplomatic effort—and potentially stronger sanctions or military support in retaliation for what Ukraine describes as an ongoing campaign of terror against its population.

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