Ukraine war: 34 people killed as Russian missiles hit Sumy city

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on allies to put 'strong pressure' on Russia to end its war against Ukraine

- Agencies

KYIV: Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing at least 34 people, officials said, in the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week.

The two ballistic missiles hit around 10:15 a.m. (local time), officials said. Images from the scene showed lines of black body bags on the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets among the debris. Video footage also showed fire crews fighting to extinguish the shells of burned-out cars among the rubble from damaged buildings.

The dead included two children, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said in a statement. A further 117 people were wounded, including 15 children, it said.

"Only filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of ordinary people," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.