{"id":133556,"date":"2025-04-13T14:44:19","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T14:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-russia-latest-dozens-killed-in-russian-strikes-on-sumy-as-zelensky-says-putin-is-ignoring-ceasefire-proposal-bbc\/"},"modified":"2025-04-13T14:44:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T14:44:19","slug":"ukraine-russia-latest-dozens-killed-in-russian-strikes-on-sumy-as-zelensky-says-putin-is-ignoring-ceasefire-proposal-bbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-russia-latest-dozens-killed-in-russian-strikes-on-sumy-as-zelensky-says-putin-is-ignoring-ceasefire-proposal-bbc\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine-Russia latest: Dozens killed in Russian strikes on Sumy as Zelensky says Putin is ignoring ceasefire proposal – BBC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russian strikes on Sumy have killed more than 30 people including two children<\/a>, Ukraine's state emergency service says
One of the city's residents tells the BBC that during the strikes "everything in my house jumped"<\/a>
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Putin of ignoring the US ceasefire proposal<\/a> and US special envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg says today's strike "crosses any line of decency"
For a Ukrainian on a morning like today, the idea of peace or a ceasefire feels no closer,<\/i> writes our Ukraine correspondent<\/a>
On Friday, US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a Ukrainian peace settlement – here's what happened<\/a>
Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than three years ago<\/a>
This video can not be played
Watch: Moment missile lands in Ukrainian city of Sumy
Edited by Jack Burgess, Matt Spivey and Neha Gohil
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says "strong measures are urgently needed to enforce a ceasefire"
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen <\/b>says the strikes are a "grim reminder" that "Russia was and remains the aggressor". This was a "barbaric attack", she adds, "made even more vile as people gathered peacefully to celebrate Palm Sunday".
Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholtz<\/b> calls the attack "horrific", adding it shows "Russia is relentlessly continuing its war of aggression against Ukraine".
Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, <\/b>condemns the "horrible and cowardly Russian attack".
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky<\/b> describes Russia's leaders as "murderers", calling the attack "heinous".
We've also been hearing from French President <\/b>Emmanuel Macron<\/a>, UK Prime Minister <\/b>Keir Starmer <\/a>and President of the European Council <\/b>Antonio Costa<\/a>.<\/b>
The Ukraine-Russia envoy for the US, Keith Kellogg, says Russia's attack on Sumy "crosses any line of decency".
Writing on social media, Kellogg describes the ballistic missile strikes as "wrong".
He adds that the US remains involved in brokering an end to the conflict: "It is why President Trump is working hard to end this war".
In response to Kellogg's post, Zelensky's communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn says: "Don\u2019t you think it\u2019s time to smack the Moscow mule across the nose with a 2×4 (two-by-four)?"
Sumy, in north-east Ukraine, is the capital city of the Sumy Oblast region. It lies around 25 miles (40km) from the Russian border.
The city borders Russia's Kursk region, parts of which have been occupied by Ukrainian troops to strengthen Kyiv's hand in any negotiations, though they have been forced back in recent weeks.
The city has regularly been attacked. On 24 March, Sumy City Council said 99 people, including 23 children, were injured after a Russian strike.
As it lies close to the border, Sumy is regularly attacked by Russian glide bombs – a simple and cheap munition with a basic targeting system – fired from inside Russia.
A little earlier we heard from French President Emmanuel Macron who says Russia's attack on Sumy shows a "blatant disregard for human lives".
Now, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the attack as "horrific".
He says the strikes are a "stark reminder of the continued bloodshed" carried out by Russia.
"President Zelensky has shown his commitment to peace, President Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions – as Ukraine has done," Starmer adds.
The Ukrainian authorities have released some more pictures showing the scale of the devastation on Sumy.
These latest images show emergency services' continuing response to this morning's deadly strikes:
We've seen a statement from Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, who has confirmed at least two Russian ballistic missiles hit Sumy earlier.
Speaking to Ukrainian news agency RBC-Ukraine, Klymenko also warns "the number of victims may increase".
In a scathing attack on the Russian military, Klymenko says the attacks hit the city centre, noting that on Palm Sunday many people were on the street celebrating and there is a church near to the strike location.
"It was at this time that the Russians struck, clearly realising that they were hitting civilians," he adds.
\"\"<\/span><\/span>James Waterhouse<\/strong>
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv<\/span>
Ukrainian rescue workers at the site of the rocket strike on Sumy
These were direct hits on a bustling city on a weekend morning. And given it was Palm Sunday, more people would have been about than normal.
Officials in Sumy say the missiles were packed with cluster munitions, which are designed to take as many lives as possible.
They have left a scene of devastation, with burning vehicles, bent trees, and a burning trolley car where the deaths seem to have been concentrated.
Bodies that were strewn across the area are gradually being put into body bags in Sumy and the death toll will likely rise in a place that's now habitually pummelled by Russian forces across the nearby border.
It\u2019s a part of Ukraine where Russian forces are thought to be preparing for a major offensive, as they continue to pursue their goal of occupying as much of the country as possible.
Zelensky (left), Starmer (middle) and Macron (right) pictured in the Elysee Palace in Paris earlier this year
French President Emmanuel Macron <\/b>says today's strike on Sumy show Russia's "blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump".
Everyone knows this war was initiated by Russia alone and today it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it."
President Macron<\/b>
France and the UK have had a prominent role in finding common ground among European allies to support Ukraine in recent months, setting up the "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.<\/a>
In a post on the social media platform X, he says France is working "tirelessly" with its partners towards a ceasefire.
Also reacting to the strikes, EU\u2019s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas<\/b> describes it as a \u201chorrific example of Russia intensifying attacks while Ukraine has accepted an unconditional ceasefire\u201d.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa<\/b> says Russia's "campaign of violence" shows once again the war "exists and endures only because Russia chooses so".
Dashcam footage in Sumy, that has been authenticated by BBC Verify, shows the view from a vehicle as a blast rocked the city earlier today.
This short clip shows a nearby, street-level perspective of today's missile strike on the city:
This video can not be played
Dashcam video shows the moment a blast hits Sumy
\"\"<\/span><\/span>James Waterhouse<\/strong>
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv<\/span>
Smoke billows into the air next to Ukrainian rescue workers in Sumy
Every inch of Ukraine feels the pressure of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion, but it is becoming more concentrated in Sumy.
This attack has also caused a political fracture, with a mayor in the region, Artem Semenikhin, giving regional security officials until 18:00 to resign for failing to prevent this attack.
The president\u2019s chief of staff has accused him of using the tragedy for political gain.
More broadly, drone and missile strikes are launched daily – mostly at night. In Kyiv there were four hours of sirens last night.
There is still no agreement between Kyiv and Washington over a potential energy deal, which would see America invest in Ukraine in exchange for continued military help.
All as US special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in a friendly meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg yesterday.
Witkoff's host is still demanding of the complete occupation of four Ukrainian provinces and the political capitulation of Ukraine.
For a Ukrainian on a morning like today, the idea of peace or a ceasefire feels no closer.
We\u2019ve just heard from a woman living in Sumy, north-east Ukraine.
Ludmyla Voronina tells the BBC she lives two or three kilometres from where the explosion happened.
She says there were blasts from two ballistic rockets \u2013 one first, then another two minutes later.
Ludmyla heard a huge bang from her house: \u201cEverything in my house jumped.\u201d
She also says a trolleybus exploded.
Living in Sumy, Ludmyla says she never feels safe. Some of her children are staying abroad, but she remains in Sumy because she has pets, an elderly mother and a business there.
It\u2019s my motherland; it\u2019s difficult for me to leave it."
Ludmyla<\/b>
As for peace talks, she says she doesn\u2019t believe they will work.
The death toll following today's strike in Sumy has gone up to 32, Ukraine's state emergency service has said.
Two children are among those who have been killed.
Another 84 people, including 10 children, were injured, with emergency and rescue operations continuing.
Chris Partridge<\/strong>
BBC News Weapons Analyst<\/span>
In the last few minutes, Ukraine's Intelligence Service says the strike on Sumy came from two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Voronezh and Kursk areas of Russia.
We've just heard from BBC reporters on the ground in Ukraine, where the authorities have clarified there were two ballistic strikes this morning.
Two Iskander missiles were used at around 10:15 local time (08:15 BST), both hitting the area around Sumy State University, authorities said.
Ukrainian authorities told the BBC that 20 buildings were damaged, including four educational institutions, 10 cars and trams – as well as cafes, shops and five apartment buildings.
"It is crucial that the world does not stay silent or indifferent," after the missile attack in Sumy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says in new a statement on X.
"Russian strikes deserve nothing but condemnation. There must be pressure on Russia to end the war and guarantee security for people," he says adding that "Russia will continue dragging this war" without strong pressure.
"It\u2019s now the second month that Putin has been ignoring the US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire," Zelensky adds.
"Unfortunately, there in Moscow they are convinced they can keep killing with impunity. Action is needed to change this situation," he says.
Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Library in St Petersburg on Friday
The missile strike in Sumy comes after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday.
The Kremlin said the meeting lasted more than four hours and focused on "aspects of a Ukrainian settlement". The meeting, Witkoff's third with Putin this year, was described by Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev as "productive".
Trump, the US president, has expressed frustration over the progress of talks. On Friday, he wrote: "Russia has to get moving. Too many people [are] DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war."
After meeting Putin, Witkoff travelled to Oman for talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about Tehran\u2019s nuclear programme.
Ukraine's top counter-disinformation official Andriy Kovalenko addressed the meeting between Witkoff and Putin after the missile attack in Sumy saying: "Russia builds all its so-called diplomacy and racketeering around attacks on civilians."
At least 31 people, including two children, have been killed in the strike in Sumy, according to a new statement from Ukraine's State Emergency Service.
Another 84 people, including 10 children, were injured. Rescue work is in progress at the scene, the statement adds.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has reacted to the strike saying: "Launching such an attack on a major Christian holiday is absolute evil."
The minister adds officials are "sharing detailed information about this war crime".
He also criticises Russia for rejecting a US ceasefire proposal and urges Ukraine\u2019s partners to step up pressure on Moscow.
"Strength is the only language they can understand and the only way to put an end to the horrific terror."
As of 13:00 local time (11:00 BST), 24 people, including one child, have been killed in the strike, according to a statement from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine's Telegram channel.
Another 84 people, including seven children, were injured.
Copyright \u00a9 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.<\/a><\/p>\n

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