Russia launched a fresh wave of strikes on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy late Monday, just a day after a missile attack killed 35 people and injured over 100, Ukrainian officials said.
The Air Force reported a new missile and guided bomb assault on the city within minutes of each other. Local authorities confirmed an explosion near the outskirts but said there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Sunday’s missile strike, which hit central Sumy during Palm Sunday services, marked one of the deadliest attacks in recent months. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the casualty toll had risen to 35 dead and 119 wounded, with 40 people still in hospital.
"Only scoundrels can act like this, taking the lives of ordinary people," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address, calling for a tougher international response. Dozens of world leaders and international organisations have since issued messages of support.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it targeted a gathering of Ukrainian military officers. It accused Kyiv of using civilian areas as cover for military operations — a claim Ukraine has not responded to but routinely denies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that Ukrainian officials had been meeting with Western counterparts in Sumy, though no evidence was provided. The U.S. and European leaders condemned the attack. French President Emmanuel Macron said it underscored the urgency of enforcing a ceasefire.
President Donald Trump, who has made ending the war a policy priority, called the strike “terrible,” and added, “I was told they made a mistake.” The Kremlin declined to comment on Trump’s remark but reiterated that Russia targets only military objectives.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the renewed attacks showed that Russia was not serious about peace. "Putin is seeking continuation, not resolution," he said.
The United Nations says over 12,000 civilians have been killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. The latest assault on Sumy has once again drawn global attention to the human toll of a war now entering its fourth year.
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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