A Russian missile strike early on Tuesday morning, March 25, hit a densely populated district in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, injuring at least 88 people, including 17 children, as ceasefire talks continued.
Regional Governor Volodymyr Artiukh, who shared the updated casualty figures on national television, explained that many children had been evacuated to air raid shelters and were not harmed.
“They were in a heavily populated area struck by the enemy. Two schools were within the impact zone. I was there when rescuers cleared the area where the children were. They were in protective structures, and all of them were safely evacuated,” Artiukh said.
Reports indicate that several high-rise residential buildings in the city center were also damaged in the attack.
Artiukh had previously posted a video from the scene showing heavy black smoke, fires, and a car with shattered windows in the background.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack in a video address, calling it another example of the loss, pain, and destruction that Ukraine continues to endure.
This strike came as Russian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential ceasefire. Zelenskyy stated that Russia was the only force prolonging the war and causing suffering for both its people and the world.
“To force Russia into peace, we need strong measures and decisive actions. We are ready to support any initiative that makes diplomacy more effective,” he said.