Ukrainian officials reported high casualties after a Russian missile attack on the northeastern city of Sumy, which has witnessed growing attacks in recent times from Moscow’s military.
“Numerous killed today due to a missile attack,” Sumy’s acting mayor Artem Kobzar said on social media. “The enemy has attacked civilians once again,” he noted, emphasizing the impact on civilians in the region.
Sumy, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the Russian frontier, has come under increasing danger since Ukrainian forces were pushed out of the adjoining Kursk region. With its proximity to Russia, Sumy has proved to be an easy target and Kyiv had previously threatened with a possible attack in the region.
Earlier this month, Russian troops claimed to have taken control of a village in the Sumy region, the first reported to do so since the initial days of the 2022 invasion.
Photographs shared on social media, while unverified, depicted scenes of destruction, such as charred cars and smoke billowing from affected areas.