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Russian missiles hit Ukrainian city of Sumy during Palm Sunday celebrations, killing 34

‘Only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people,’ said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky

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The covered body of a person killed during a Sunday morning missile attack in Sumy, Ukraine. Photo: Handout via AFP

Russian missiles struck the heart of the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people gathered to celebrate Palm Sunday, killing at least 34 people, officials said, in the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in just over a week.

The two ballistic missiles struck at around 10.15am, officials said.

Images from the scene showed lines of black body bags on the side of the road, while more bodies were seen wrapped in foil blankets among the debris. Video footage also showed fire crews fighting to extinguish the shells of burnt-out cars among the rubble from damaged buildings.

The dead included two children, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said in a statement. A further 117 people were wounded, including 15 children, it said.

“Only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The head of the Ukrainian president’s office, Andriy Yermak, said the strike also used cluster munitions in an attempt to kill as many people as possible. Associated Press was unable to verify the claim.

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