Global leaders unite in condemnation, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire and accountability against Russia.
**Ukraine's Allies Strongly Denounce Deadly Missile Strike in Sumy**
**Ukraine's Allies Strongly Denounce Deadly Missile Strike in Sumy**
Western leaders express outrage over the tragic attack that claimed 34 lives, including children.
In a devastating attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, Russian missiles killed 34 people, including two children, and injured over 117 others, drawing swift outrage from Ukraine's Western allies. The assault, which occurred mid-morning on a Sunday, involved two ballistic missiles striking near the state university and congress centre, causing heinous destruction and leaving bloodied bodies in the streets.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the attack as "horrifying," while Germany's incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned it as a war crime. There has been no official response from Russia regarding the attack, which coincides with reports of preparations for a significant offensive from Russian forces stationed nearby.
The attack came during a time when the US, Ukraine's most substantial military ally, seeks an end to the four-year war via negotiations led by former President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the devastation firsthand, emphasizing the need for genuine dialogue based on real experiences of the war's impact on civilians.
While Rubio expressed condolences to the victims' families, he warned that the attack serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of efforts to end the conflict. Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, condemned the missile strike as having crossed "any line of decency."
Merz echoed a similar sentiment, branding the assault a "perfidious act" and a "serious war crime." Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that the incident highlighted Russia's lack of genuine commitment to peace talks, while French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Russia for its "blatant disregard for human lives and international law." Macron called for stronger measures to enforce a ceasefire.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled the attack "barbaric" and underscored that Russia remains the aggressor in violation of international law. She called for urgent actions to enforce a ceasefire and ensure a lasting peace on Ukraine's terms.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his dismay, describing the attacks on civilians in Sumy as horrific. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep alarm over the missile strike, reiterating that attacks against civilians are prohibited under international law and must cease immediately.
This fatal missile attack in Sumy represents the deadliest assault on civilians in Ukraine this year, reminiscent of an earlier attack in Kryvyi Rih on April 4, which resulted in 20 fatalities and 61 injuries. Estimates indicate that the ongoing conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties among soldiers and civilians since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The UN reports that around seven million Ukrainians are currently displaced as refugees due to the prolonged conflict that originally erupted in 2014 with Russia's annexation of Crimea.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the attack as "horrifying," while Germany's incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned it as a war crime. There has been no official response from Russia regarding the attack, which coincides with reports of preparations for a significant offensive from Russian forces stationed nearby.
The attack came during a time when the US, Ukraine's most substantial military ally, seeks an end to the four-year war via negotiations led by former President Donald Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the devastation firsthand, emphasizing the need for genuine dialogue based on real experiences of the war's impact on civilians.
While Rubio expressed condolences to the victims' families, he warned that the attack serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of efforts to end the conflict. Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, condemned the missile strike as having crossed "any line of decency."
Merz echoed a similar sentiment, branding the assault a "perfidious act" and a "serious war crime." Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz remarked that the incident highlighted Russia's lack of genuine commitment to peace talks, while French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Russia for its "blatant disregard for human lives and international law." Macron called for stronger measures to enforce a ceasefire.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled the attack "barbaric" and underscored that Russia remains the aggressor in violation of international law. She called for urgent actions to enforce a ceasefire and ensure a lasting peace on Ukraine's terms.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his dismay, describing the attacks on civilians in Sumy as horrific. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep alarm over the missile strike, reiterating that attacks against civilians are prohibited under international law and must cease immediately.
This fatal missile attack in Sumy represents the deadliest assault on civilians in Ukraine this year, reminiscent of an earlier attack in Kryvyi Rih on April 4, which resulted in 20 fatalities and 61 injuries. Estimates indicate that the ongoing conflict has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties among soldiers and civilians since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The UN reports that around seven million Ukrainians are currently displaced as refugees due to the prolonged conflict that originally erupted in 2014 with Russia's annexation of Crimea.
