KYIV, Ukraine— Russian missiles targeted the heart of Sumy, Ukraine, as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing at least 32 people, according to officials. The two ballistic missiles struck around 10:15 a.m., according to officials. Images from the incident on official networks showed lines of black body bags lying on the side of the road, with more dead wrapped in foil blankets among the rubble. Firefighters were also seen fighting to extinguish the remains of burned-out autos among the wreckage from damaged structures. According to a statement from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, two children were among those killed. An additional 99 persons were injured, including 11 children, it said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the incident. “Only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people,” stated the man. Andriy Yermak, the chief of Ukraine’s presidential office, stated that the strike also utilized cluster munitions in an attempt to kill as many people as possible. The Associated Press was unable to confirm the claim.

“The Ukrainians have been attacking us since the beginning, every day, with two or three exceptions,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, adding that Moscow would submit a list of Kyiv’s strikes during the last three weeks to the US, Turkey, and international agencies. His Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, disputed the assertion, stating on Saturday that Russia has launched “almost 70 missiles, over 2,200 (exploding) drones, and over 6,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine, mostly at civilians” since agreeing to the short pause on strikes.

Russian soldiers have an advantage in Ukraine, and Kiev has warned that Moscow is contemplating a new spring offensive to increase pressure on its adversary and boost its negotiation position. Ukraine has supported a bigger US cease-fire proposal, but Russia has successfully thwarted it by demanding stringent terms. European leaders have accused Putin of delaying his feet. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said Sunday that the Sumy attack violated “any line of decency” and that the White House was still committed to resolving the crisis.

There are scores of civilian dead and wounded. As a former military leader, I understand targeting, and this is wrong. It is why President Trump is working hard to end this war,” he said.