Palm Sunday tragedy in Sumy: Humanitarian response brings urgent relief and solidarity 

Palm Sunday is meant to be a day of peace and reflection. But for the people of Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, 13 April 2025 became a day of terror and unimaginable loss. A missile strike by the Russian Armed Forces hit a bustling street in the heart of the city, killing at least thirty civilians and injuring many more, as reported by local authorities. Homes, a public bus, and even an educational facility were among the targets struck in this devastating attack.  

In the face of this tragedy, humanitarian organizations quickly came together to provide life-saving assistance and emotional support to the affected community. Many people had lost loved ones, and others were left injured or deeply traumatized.  

“I live nearby and heard a loud explosion — it was immediately clear that something terrible had happened,” said Igor Klymenko, Head of the Sumy Branch of the NGO Humanitarian Mission Proliska. “I reached out to my colleagues, and we rushed to the scene to help.”  

When they arrived, they were met with a devastating sight: bodies lay in the street, injured people called out for help, and civilian vehicles were on fire.   

“People were in a state of shock,” Klymenko recalled. “They were crying and needed to talk about what had happened. This was a critical moment for providing psychological support.”  

Rescue services and local humanitarian organizations were among the first to respond, helping evacuate the injured and providing shelter to those unable to return home. Aid workers distributed blankets, hygiene kits, warm meals, and emergency repair materials to families who had lost everything. The World Health Organization (WHO) delivered trauma and emergency medical kits to local health workers, enabling hospitals to manage the surge in casualties.  

Psychosocial support teams from several humanitarian organizations provided crisis counselling to both adults and children. Legal aid and social services were also available, including individual case management for the most vulnerable. JERU and NGO Myrne Nebo began registering families for cash assistance to help meet urgent needs such as healthcare and protection. In total, hundreds of people received support.  

The UN Secretary-General expressed deep sorrow over the attack and reminded all parties that international humanitarian law strictly prohibits targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. These rules are in place to safeguard human life and dignity — and must be respected at all times. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine also condemned the strike and extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving families on behalf of the humanitarian community.  

In the face of violence, the humanitarian response was immediate and collective. Aid organizations, including the NGOs Caritas Ukraine, Girls, Danish Refugee Council, Humanitarian Mission Proliska, Right to Protection, Rokada, Save the Children, the Ukrainian Red Cross, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF,  World Central Kitchen, and many others stood side by side to deliver care, solidarity, and hope.  

“All organizations — both city services and NGOs — came together to help. Even passersby were approaching us, asking how they could contribute,” said Igor. “Emergency services, humanitarian workers, and volunteers — everyone did everything they could to support the people affected.”