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At least 32 people, including two child, were killed when ballistic missiles hit a bus in Ukraine this morning a day after Donald Trump said peace talks are ‘going fine’.
Dead bodies covered in foil blankets lie on an intersection in Sumy, a city of 250,000 people near the Russian border.
A bus was burnt out, charred trees had fallen, and several cars were on fire. A woman crouched down and hugged one of the dead.
‘On this bright day of Palm Sunday, our community suffered a terrible tragedy’, the city’s mayor Artem Kobzar said in a statement on Telegram.
‘The enemy launched a missile strike on civilians. Unfortunately, more than 20 deaths are already known.’
At least 32 died. Another 99 people, including 11 children, were injured in the missile strikes around 10am, the local authority said.
Videos from the scene show pedestrians scrambling for cover when a missile – believed to be an Iskander-M – landed with a loud bang.
It was followed by the sound of shattered glass, falling rubble and car alarms mixed with sirens.
Afterwards, medics could be seen tending to bloodied survivors while thick black smoke billowed from the blown up bus.
The facade of a nearby university building appears to have been destroyed in one of the explosions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said: ‘Enemy missiles hit an ordinary city street, ordinary life: houses, educational institutions, cars on the street.
‘And this is on a day when people go to church: Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.’
He added: ‘Only a scoundrel can act like this.’
The strikes come the day after Russia and Ukraine’ top diplomats accused each other of violating an agreement to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.
Both countries had agreed to a tentative US-brokered 30-day ceasefire last month, before both alleging immediate breaches by the other side.
‘The Ukrainians have been attacking us from the very beginning, every passing day, maybe with two or three exceptions’, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, thinks the peace talks ‘might be going OK’, despite his frustrations with Russia.
On Saturday, he said: ‘There’s a point at which you just have to either put up or shut up and we’ll see what happens, but I think it’s going fine.’
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined other European leaders in condemning the Russian attack in Sumy.
He said: ‘I’m appalled at Russia’s horrific attacks on civilians in Sumy and my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones at this tragic time.
‘President Zelenskyy has shown his commitment to peace. Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions.’
For Zelensky, this latest attack is proof that Russia – which invaded Ukraine – is not interested in peace.
Just last week, a Russian missile killed 20 people, including nine children, when it hit a playground in Zelensky’s own hometown.
Today, he said: ‘A tough reaction from the world is needed. The United States, Europe, everyone in the world who wants an end to this war and murders.
‘Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging out this war. Without pressure on the aggressor, peace is impossible.
‘Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and air bombs. We need the kind of attitude towards Russia that a terrorist deserves.’
Russia accused Ukraine of launching attacks on energy infrastructure on the other side of the border in Belgorod twice in the last day.
French President Emmanuel Macron said: ‘Everyone knows: this war was initiated by Russia alone. And today, it is clear that Russia alone chooses to continue it — with blatant disregard for human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump.
‘Strong measures are needed to impose a ceasefire on Russia. France is working tirelessly toward this goal, alongside its partners.
‘To the victims, the wounded, and all of Ukraine that continues to resist: our solidarity, our respect, our unwavering commitment.’
France and the UK have been weighing up plans to send their own troops as a peacekeeping force to Ukraine in attempt to preserve any ceasefire.
Trump’s envoy to Ukraine – Keith Kellogg – suggested the country could be divided ’almost like Berlin after World War II’ as part of a deal to end Russia’s full-scale invasion.
It would involve British and French troops stationed in a western zone up to the banks of the River Dnipro, a Ukrainian zone in the country’s northeast, and continuing Russian occupation in the southeast and Crimea, with an 18-mile demilitarised zone.
Kellogg said: ‘Are there going to be violations? Probably, because there always are. But your ability to monitor that is easy.’
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