Zelensky blasts Russia as “scum” for Palm Sunday missile strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a “horrific” Russian ballistic missile attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Sunday, after repeated warnings from Ukrainian officials that a fresh offensive on the area could be imminent.

Zelensky said in a post to social media that Russian ballistic missiles had targeted residential buildings, cars and “educational institutions” in the city on Palm Sunday.

The Ukrainian leader said “dozens of civilians” had been killed or injured in the attack, adding rescue efforts were underway.

“Only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people,” Zelensky said. “My condolences to the families and loved ones.”

“The Russians hit the city of Sumy with missiles, killing civilians,” the head of Zelensky’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said in his own post to social media.

This is a breaking story and will be updated shortly.