Mayor says ‘many dead’ after Russian strike on Ukrainian city

Ukrainian officials say there are “many dead” after a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy, which has come under intense attack from Moscow’s forces in recent weeks.

Sumy lies close to the Russian border and has been under increasing pressure since Moscow pushed back much of Ukraine’s troops from its Kursk region across the border.

“Many dead today as a result of a missile strike,” the acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, says on social media, adding that “the enemy has struck civilians again”.

Unverified images on social media showed burnt-out cars and plumes of smoke rising into the air.

Sumy lies some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border.

Kyiv has warned for weeks that Moscow could mount an offensive on Sumy.

Sunday. Christian holiday before Easter. Barbaric brutal murder of civilians in Sumy.
Russians did it intentionally.

But never mind, @SteveWitkoff will thank Putin again and lick his bloody hands. pic.twitter.com/XpIZh8407e

— Serhii Sternenko ✙ (@sternenko) April 13, 2025