On the day when the Christian world celebrated Palm Sunday, the prelude to Holy Week, a devastating Russian air strike hit the Ukrainian city of Sumy, causing dozens of civilian casualties and leaving behind a landscape of destruction. According to official Ukrainian sources, the bombing caused 34 deaths and 117 injuries, including many children.
The attack was carried out by the Russian armed forces, in particular by the 448th and 112th Missile Brigades, which launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the localities of Liski and Kursk.
The bombing took place in the morning, while many citizens were in local churches for the liturgical celebration. The missiles hit a residential area in the heart of the city, destroying homes, schools and a children’s hospital. Witnesses described scenes of panic and desperation: entire families trapped under the rubble, rescuers and volunteers working tirelessly among the ruins to save survivors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy harshly condemned the attack, calling it “a heinous crime against humanity” and called for an immediate response from the international community. “Attacking civilians on a day of peace and prayer is an act of barbarism that cannot be ignored”, he said in his evening speech broadcast on all national networks.
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry spoke of a military operation aimed at hitting “Ukrainian logistical infrastructure”, but did not provide evidence or concrete details on the target hit in Sumy. However, satellite images and videos posted on social media clearly show the missiles hitting exclusively civilian areas.
Sumy mourns its victims in one of the most tragic episodes since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion, more than three years ago. Amid the silence of the churches and the still smoking rubble, the city and all of Ukraine are now seeking justice and support.
By Andrea Imperatore
Classe IV C Liceo Scientifico