Kremlin defends explosive assault leaving 34 dead in Sumy
The Kremlin commented on the blood-soaked attack on Sumy. Dmitry Peskov claims that only military targets were struck. However, it is important to remember that 34 civilians lost their lives due to the Russian shelling.
What do you need to know?
- Where and when did the attack occur? On Palm Sunday, the Russian army attacked the centre of Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine.
- What were the consequences of the attack? 34 civilians were killed, and 117 people were injured.
- What does the Kremlin claim? Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov simply trotted out Russia's propaganda narratives. He asserts that the targets were purely military facilities.
What were the targets of the Russian attack?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the tragic shelling of Sumy on Monday.
Peskov maintains that the Russian army only targets military objectives. It is crucial to remember, however, that 34 civilians were killed during the Russian shelling.
What does the Russian Defence Ministry say?
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the attack's target was a meeting of Ukrainian commanders in Sumy. Two Iskander missiles were employed to execute the attack.
The mayor of Konotop in the Sumy region accused the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration of organising a ceremony in Sumy to commend soldiers from the 117th Territorial Defence Brigade. He claims that they—not civilians—were the intended targets of the Russian missiles.
According to him, only civilians were impacted by the Russian attack on the city. None of the military personnel were injured because the award ceremony took place in a shelter.
Attack on Sumy
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on the devastating missile attack on the city of Sumy.
"Enemy missiles hit an ordinary city street, ordinary life: houses, educational institutions, cars on the street … And this on a day when people go to church: Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem," wrote Volodymyr Zelensky on the X service.
"My condolences to the families and loved ones. The rescue operation is ongoing. All necessary services are working," the President of Ukraine emphasised.
NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart also responded to the attack. "Horrific scenes from the center of Sumy where Russian ballistic missiles killed dozens and severely injured many more ordinary civilians. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people on what is a sacred day for so many," she wrote on the X portal.
