Sumy, three miles from the Russian border, has been the target of many Russian attacks since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. But Sunday's attack, which occurred in the morning, was one of the deadliest so far, reports Kyiv Independent.
Sumy resident Natalijia describes to BBC how she rushed to pick up her child from music school after hearing the first rocket hit the city. She took both her and other children to a shelter. Then came attack number two, which hit her car.
If I hadn't made it to the shelter in time, I would have been in the car and we would have been dead, she says.
"Everything had darkened"
In central Sumy, among other things, a destroyed bus can be seen, reports Anna Sjpurik, a journalist at the local newspaper Cukr, to Kyiv Independent. The people who were traveling in it are now dead, she adds.
University premises, residential buildings, shops, and a church were also damaged, according to the authorities in Sumy.
When Sjpurik arrived at the scene, everything had darkened, and those who were left in the area were too shocked to talk to her, she reports.
Everyone is afraid that attacks will occur again. Everyone is afraid of receiving news about their loved ones. Some still do not know what has happened to their friends or acquaintances and are searching for them, she says.
Orchestra leader killed
Svitlana Smirnova, 51, had, like many others in the city, visited the church to celebrate Palm Sunday. She also took shelter when the first rocket hit.
A friend of mine was injured in a bus that was hit here. She is seriously injured, she is in the hospital, has undergone surgery, and is still unconscious, Svitlana Smirnova tells BBC.
She was traveling with her son, who is also injured.
So far, over 30 people have been confirmed dead in the attacks. Among those mourned is Olena Kohut, orchestra leader at Sumy's national theater.
"On April 13, 2025, as a result of a Russian rocket attack, our theater family experienced pain that cannot be described in words", her colleagues write in a statement, according to Ukrainian Pravda.
They continue:
"Olena was an extremely smart person, a real professional, a kind colleague, and a reliable friend. Her music, her smile, her kindness will forever remain in our memories".
