PALM SUNDAY SHOULD BE A DAY OF PEACE. PEOPLE IN SUMY HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO TERROR.

Palm Sunday is meant to be a day of peace and reflection. Instead, people in Sumy in northeastern Ukraine have been subjected to violence, terror, and loss.  I am utterly appalled by this morning’s missile strike by the Russian Armed Forces on the heart of Sumy City.   

 According to local authorities, the horrifying attack killed at least twenty people and injured many more. Details are still emerging, but reportedly, the missile struck a busy street in the city centre, damaging residential buildings, an educational facility, and civilian vehicles — including a public bus. 

On behalf of the humanitarian community and the United Nations country team, I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and express my deeply felt condolences with the families whose lives have been torn apart. 

International humanitarian law strictly prohibits attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Those rules exist to protect human life and dignity — and they must be respected at all times.