Ukrainian law enforcement officers and volunteers search the rubble at the site a missile attack in … More
On April 13, 2025, on Palm Sunday, a Russian ballistic missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy resulted in at least 30 people killed and over 80 wounded. According to officials, the missiles struck the heart of the city in the early hours as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, the first day of the Christian Holy Week. One of the missiles hit a bus full of passengers. Among those killed are children. Commenting on the attack, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said: “It is crucial that the world does not stay silent or indifferent. Russian strikes deserve nothing but condemnation. There must be pressure on Russia to end the war and guarantee security for people. Without truly strong pressure, without sufficient support for Ukraine, Russia will continue dragging this war out. It’s now the second month that Putin has been ignoring the U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. Unfortunately, there in Moscow, they are convinced they can keep killing with impunity. Action is needed to change this situation.”
More than three years into the war, Russia’s atrocities do not see an end. Despite some conversations in relation to the peace agreement, no significant progress has been made. A month ago, Ukraine signed a 30-day ceasefire that Washington proposed. However, the opposite has been noticed, with Russia escalating its bombardment of Ukrainian cities, firing 70 missiles and 2,200 drones. In total ignorance of the law of armed conflicts, Russia does not target military objects only, but any place in Ukraine. Nothing and no one is off limits. The attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday is but only one example. Earlier this month, Russian missiles hit a playground in the city of Kryvyi Rih, killing nine children and nine adults. The last three years have seen a plethora of other examples of such acts, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Commenting on the attack, Donald Trump’s Envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said: “Today’s Palm Sunday attack by Russian forces on civilian targets in Sumy crosses any line of decency. There are scores of civilians dead and wounded. As a former military leader, I understand targeting and this is wrong. It is why President Trump is working hard to end this war.” Again, Russia does not seem to rush into any agreements and seems to be stalling any progress, while using the time to escalate their attacks on Ukraine.
The missile attack on Palm Sunday was condemned by several global leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented: “This morning, Russian cruelty struck again, killing men, women and children in the city of Sumy. A barbaric attack made even more vile as people gathered peacefully to celebrate Palm Sunday. This latest escalation is a grim reminder: Russia was and remains the aggressor, in blatant violation of international law. Strong measures are urgently needed to enforce a ceasefire.” The European Union’s ambassador to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, called the strikes a war crime: “I am horrified by the treachery of the Russians. Today they launched another massive attack on civilians and also hit a church in the city of Sumy, located just a few kilometers from the Russian border. Two ballistic missiles hit the center of Sumy, just as people were gathering to attend a mass to celebrate Palm Sunday. (…) Attacking churchgoers on Palm Sunday is a war crime. Nothing seems to be sacred to the Russians — neither churches nor Ukrainian children.” European Council President and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack and said that it “contradicts any real commitment to peace, promoted by President Trump and supported wholeheartedly by Italy, together with Europe and other international partners.”
Russia’s promises to agree to a peace deal mean nothing when Russia continues to escalate attacks on Ukraine, including indiscriminate attacks, and attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects. The attack on this Palm Sunday, knowing well too well that people would be going to churches to celebrate the first day of the Christian Holy Week, shows the true intention of Russia – and it is not peace – it is to destroy, it is to harm, it is to annihilate the Ukrainian nation and identity.
