Russian strike kills dozens in Ukraine

At least 34 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in a Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people were going to church for Palm Sunday, in the worst attack on civilians this year.

- Luke Harding

Two ballistic missiles landed in the crowded city centre yesterday morning. One hit a trolley bus full of passengers. Footage from the scene showed bodies lying in the street, burning cars, and rescuers carrying bloodied survivors. Two of the dead were children.

"My seven-year-old son was running for shelter when the second missile struck," said Volodymyr Niankin, a film director. "The blast ripped off a door which hit him in the leg. He has a bruise but is OK.

My son said this is the most terrible day of his life." Niankin said he saw bodies on the ground. "Many of the people who died were sitting on the bus or walking in the road. A lot of people were out and about because it was a religious festival. I think this is genocide."

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said there were "dozens of dead and wounded civilians". He accused Russia of carrying out an act of deliberate terror and said tough reaction was needed from the US, Europe and the rest of the world.

"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," he posted on social media.