Russian airstrike on Sumy kills 4 civilians, including 5-year-old girl; Zelensky demands international pressure on Moscow

Attack on Sumy city center

On July 3, 2026, Russian forces launched an airstrike on the city center of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, using guided aerial bombs. The attack struck civilian areas, causing destruction. Rescue operations were ongoing as of late evening, with fears that people remained trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building.

Casualties and victims

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed four fatalities, including a child. Oleg Grigorov, head of the Sumy regional military administration, reported that a 5-year-old girl and her mother died despite resuscitation attempts. Twenty-seven people were wounded, six of them children, many with severe injuries. Images shared by Zelensky showed emergency workers using a defibrillator on a young girl at the scene.

The Russians used guided aerial bombs against civilians in the city center. There may still be people trapped under the rubble of a building. Tragically, four victims have been confirmed, including a child.

Zelensky calls for international pressure

Zelensky urged Ukraine's partners to increase pressure on Russia to end the "terror." He specifically named the United States, other G7 and G20 countries, and Europe as actors Russia would listen to. He pointed to Europe's leverage over Russia's energy sector, oil fleet, and financial system, and called for additional steps to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses.

It is essential that our partners put pressure on Russia so that this terror ends. Those whom Russia will listen to are, without doubt, the United States, other G7 and G20 countries, and Europe.

Wider attacks across Ukraine

Zelensky noted that Russia also struck Zaporizhzhia with a drone, killing two and wounding six, including a child. Kharkiv was targeted by an FPV drone, causing injuries. Communities in Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Donetsk regions were also attacked. Earlier on July 3, a drone strike on Romny in the Sumy region killed four people, including a 2-year-old girl, and wounded three, according to Oleg Grigorov. In Kryvyi Rig, a drone attack injured seven and damaged apartment buildings, a school, and businesses, mayor Oleksandr Vilkul said.

Russian advance in Donetsk

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian forces had fully captured the town of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk region, describing it as a former Ukrainian stronghold. The town lies on a key road toward the remaining Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donbas.