Two Russian Iskander-M ballistic missiles slammed into the heart of Sumy, Ukraine, on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, killing 35 civilians, including two children, and injuring 129 others, with 15 children among the wounded. The attack occurred around 10:20 a.m. local time as residents gathered for church services, one of the holiest days in the Orthodox Christian calendar.

The missiles hit near the Congress Center of Sumy State University in the city center, damaging residential buildings, educational facilities, cafes, shops, vehicles, and a trolleybus where 16 passengers perished. Among the dead were Olena Kohut, an organist with the Sumy Regional Philharmonic Orchestra, and Colonel Yuri Yula of Ukraine's 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade. Images from the scene showed body bags lined along streets, burning cars, and bloodied sidewalks amid twisted debris.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike as deliberate terror, stating it hit 'right in the heart of the city on Palm Sunday' and calling the perpetrators 'completely deranged scum.' He urged Western allies to provide more Patriot air defenses, arguing talks alone would not stop Russian missiles. Russian officials claimed the target was a military award ceremony for Ukraine's 117th Territorial Defense Brigade at the congress center, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserting it was a legitimate military objective. Moscow's Defense Ministry said it killed over 60 Ukrainian troops, without evidence.

The United Nations strongly denounced the attack, with Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale expressing being 'utterly appalled' and noting violations of international humanitarian law. Leaders across Europe, including EU diplomat Kaja Kallas and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, labeled it barbaric and called for ceasefires and sanctions. U.S. President Donald Trump described it as a 'horrible thing' and a 'big mistake,' amid his administration's ceasefire push.

Sumy, just 30 kilometers from the Russian border, has faced frequent strikes amid ongoing Russian advances in the region. The attack marked one of the deadliest on Ukrainian civilians since 2023.

One year later, on April 13, 2026, Ukraine's Security Service in Sumy issued notices of suspicion to eight senior Russian commanders for war crimes over the strikes. The accused include Colonel General Aleksey Kim, chief of staff of Russia's Joint Grouping of Forces, and commanders of the 112th and 448th Missile Brigades that launched the missiles from Voronezh and Kursk oblasts. Prosecutors cited violations of distinction, proportionality, and precaution principles, with no proven military gain justifying civilian deaths. The Sumy region held memorials honoring the 35 victims yesterday.

Investigations continue, supported by international groups like Global Rights Compliance, as Ukraine builds cases against Russian leadership for atrocities in the war now entering its fourth year.