Russian missile attack damages school, wounds 74 in Ukraine's Sumy, officials say

Several high-rise residential blocks in the city center were also damaged. The schoolchildren were in a shelter at the time, said regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh.

 Firefighters work the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine March 24, 2025. (photo credit: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via REUTERS)
Firefighters work the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine March 24, 2025.
(photo credit: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via REUTERS)

A Russian missile attack damaged a school and a hospital in Ukraine's northeastern city of Sumy, wounding at least 74 people, including 13 children, on Monday as ceasefire talks plowed on, officials said

Several high-rise residential blocks in the city center were also damaged, regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh said. The schoolchildren were in a shelter at the time, he added without going into more details.

Artiukh spoke in a video that he said was shot at the scene with heavy black smoke, fires, and a car with shattered windows in the background. Smoke also rose from the upper floors of a five-story residential block nearby.

The attack came as Russian and US officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible ceasefire.

"Kremlin wants peace but continues strikes on populated areas"

"Moscow speaks of peace while carrying out brutal strikes on densely populated residential areas in major Ukrainian cities," Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.

 Rescuers and volunteers evacuate a wounded person from an apartment building damaged during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine March 24, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)
Rescuers and volunteers evacuate a wounded person from an apartment building damaged during a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine March 24, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)

"Instead of making hollow statements about peace, Russia must stop bombing our cities and end its war on civilians," Sybiha added.

Acting Sumy mayor Artem Kobzar said on Telegram an industrial facility was attacked but did not name it.

Sumy, about 30 km (20 miles) from the Russian border, comes under constant drone and missile strikes from Russia.