Russia Kills 32 Ukrainians After Trump Envoy Visit

Russia launched a brutal ballistic missile attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy Sunday morning, killing at least 32 civilians, including two children, during Palm Sunday church services. The deadly assault — which Ukrainian officials are calling the bloodiest civilian attack of the year — came less than 48 hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a closed-door meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The missiles struck around 10 a.m. local time, catching worshippers and residents off-guard as they marked one of the holiest days in the Christian calendar. In addition to the 32 fatalities, at least 84 people — including 10 children — were injured, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

“This was a deliberate attack on our people, our peace, our faith,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a statement. “Only filthy scum can act like this — taking the lives of ordinary people. My condolences to the families and loved ones.”

Zelensky called on the international community to respond with strength and urgency, saying rescue and emergency teams were still working at the scene.

The strike is one of the deadliest since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, and one of the worst since 2023 in terms of civilian casualties.

While the Kremlin has not commented on the attack, the timing has drawn scrutiny, particularly in light of Witkoff’s recent meeting with Putin — a development that has raised eyebrows in Washington and Kyiv alike.

Ukrainian officials condemned both the attack and the diplomatic engagement, calling it “a slap in the face to the people of Ukraine.”