The UN has condemned the recent Russian missile attack on Sumy, Ukraine, which resulted in over 30 deaths during Palm Sunday celebrations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate end to attacks on civilians.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said he is “deeply alarmed and shocked” by a deadly Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson on Sunday.

Ukrainian authorities reported that more than 30 people lost their lives in the attack on Sumy, a city situated 31 kilometres (19.2 miles) from the Russian border, as residents gathered to mark the Christian celebration of Palm Sunday.

In his statement, Guterres stressed that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are forbidden under international humanitarian law, stating that “any such attacks, wherever they take place, must cease immediately.”

He also renewed his appeal for a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine and reaffirmed his support for efforts to achieve “a just, lasting and comprehensive peace that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.”

Following the incident, Sumy City Council announced that three days of mourning would be observed in the northeastern region, beginning on Monday.

In separate posts on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the international community not to “remain silent or indifferent” in the face of such attacks, insisting that they deserve “nothing but condemnation.”

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