UPD: US President Donald Trump, commenting on the strike on Sumy, stated that he was told that Russia "made a mistake." "I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it's terrible," he told reporters. When asked to clarify what he meant, Trump replied: "I think it was - look, you ask them." However, he did not specify who he was talking about, CNN reports.
"This war started because of abuse of power," Trump said, reiterating that if he had been re-elected in 2020, Russia would not have launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He then linked the casualties in Ukraine to the allegedly "rigged" 2020 US presidential election. "Millions of people who should have been alive have died. Cities across Ukraine have been destroyed. The entire culture is gone, or at least severely damaged. Churches, temples, domes — in Ukraine they were some of the most beautiful in the world, but they were destroyed. This is what rigged elections lead to."
The death toll in Sumy reached 34 people, among them seven children, reported the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Another 119 people were injured, including 15 children. Ukrainian authorities stated that Russian military shelled the city center with two ballistic missiles. One of the missiles exploded near a trolleybus, almost all passengers received fatal injuries.
First, one missile hit the city center, followed immediately by another, reported the OSINT project DeepState associated with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Military analyst Yan Matveev* noted that photos and videos from the explosion site show traces of the detonation of the missile warhead with shrapnel. "We see the same traces again as in Kryvyi Rih. <...> Such equipment increases the danger zone during the explosion — pieces of metal scatter over 100 meters, killing everyone around," the analyst writes.
On April 13, the Russian army launched a missile strike on the center of Sumy, according to preliminary data, 21 people were killed, 83 were injured, including five children.
Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the NSDC Andriy Kovalenko noted that the Russians deliberately struck missiles on Palm Sunday at the peaceful residents of Sumy to cause many casualties. "And this is after Witkoff's visit to Moscow to Putin. The previous time in Kryvyi Rih, when many children died, they struck after Dmitriev's visit to Washington, who also met with Witkoff. All so-called diplomacy and racket Russia builds around strikes on civilians," he wrote.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke about this, noting that on Palm Sunday Ukrainians traditionally go to churches.
"A strong reaction from the world is needed. The United States, Europe, everyone in the world who wants to end this war and killings. Russia wants this kind of terror and prolongs this war. Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible. Talks have never stopped ballistics and air bombs. Russia needs to be treated as the terrorist it deserves. Thank you to everyone who is with Ukraine and helps us protect life," Zelensky added.
The Sumy City Council reported that the city's civilian infrastructure was attacked. "As a result of the missile strike in Sumy, there are dead and injured, residential and non-residential buildings were damaged," said City Council Secretary Artem Kobzar.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko wrote that people "suffered right in the middle of the street, in cars, public transport, in houses." "Psychologists from the State Emergency Service and police are working with the victims. Investigators, criminologists at the strike sites are collecting evidence, documenting the brutal war crime of the Russian Federation against the civilian population," Klymenko added.
European leaders expressed their views on the strike on Sumy. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in X: "This morning, two Russian missiles struck the very center of the city of Sumy in Ukraine, leading to numerous civilian casualties, including again among children. Everyone knows that only Russia wanted this war. Today it is clear that only Russia chooses to continue it."
"Another vile war crime by Russia — this time in the very heart of Sumy. It's a slap in the face to everyone who seeks and desires peace," said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský noted that "Russia does not want to change, Russia does not want peace, it is led by murderers who show every day that they do not strive for peace."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer believes that "Putin must agree to a complete and immediate ceasefire without any conditions."
Trump's special representative Keith Kellogg also expressed his opinion. "As a former military commander, I understand what targeting is, and this is wrong. That's why President Trump is making every effort to end this war," he wrote.
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent."
Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine