Russian Missiles Strike Sumy Civilians During Military Ceremony

From a hospital where his wounded stepdaughter lies in intensive care, Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr recounted the harrowing moment a Russian missile struck during a military medal ceremony in Sumy. The attack, which targeted a university building, killed at least five people and wounded dozens, including civilians and soldiers.

Oleksandr, who asked to be identified only by his first name for security reasons, was attending the event to receive an award for his service when the explosion tore through the venue. "We were just sitting there, listening to speeches, when everything shook," he said. "The next thing I knew, people were screaming, and the room was filled with smoke."

His stepdaughter, a university student who had come to support him, was among the injured. She suffered severe shrapnel wounds and remains in critical condition. "She didn't deserve this," Oleksandr said, his voice breaking. "None of them did."

Local authorities confirmed that the strike hit the university's main hall, where military personnel and their families had gathered. Emergency crews worked for hours to pull survivors from the rubble, with at least 20 people hospitalized, some with life threatening injuries.

The attack is part of a recent escalation in Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in northeastern Ukraine, particularly in the Sumy region near the border. Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of deliberately targeting public gatherings and residential areas to instill fear.

Regional governor Volodymyr Artiukh condemned the strike as a "war crime," emphasizing that the university had no military significance. "This was a place of learning, a place where people came to celebrate bravery, not to be attacked," he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed the condemnation in his nightly address, vowing retaliation. "The enemy continues to target our people because they cannot defeat our army on the battlefield," he said. "But these crimes will not go unpunished."

Meanwhile, Oleksandr remains by his stepdaughter's bedside, waiting for news of her recovery. "I should have been protecting her," he said. "Instead, she paid the price for this war."

The attack has drawn international outrage, with calls for increased support to Ukraine's air defense systems to prevent further civilian casualties. As rescue operations continue, the death toll may still rise, leaving a community in mourning and a nation bracing for more violence.