Tanaiste slams Russia’s brutality as children among those killed in Palm Sunday strike
Simon Harris has branded a deadly Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy as “utterly despicable”, condemning the targeting of civilians during a time of religious observance.
The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed his deep revulsion after reports confirmed that at least 32 people were killed when two ballistic missiles struck the city centre early on Sunday morning. The attack came as residents gathered to mark Palm Sunday, with several children reported among the dead.
Speaking on Sunday evening, Mr Harris said the strike was further proof that Russia has no interest in peace, accusing President Vladimir Putin of wilfully obstructing efforts to end the war through diplomacy.
“What we are after seeing happening in Ukraine in the last number of hours is utterly despicable,” Mr Harris said.
“To see an attack on people as they go about their daily lives, to see people killed and injured — many of whom were on their way to church on Palm Sunday — and indeed to see a number of children killed, really does not speak of a country that wants peace.”
The attack has sent shockwaves through the international community and added further urgency to discussions taking place among European leaders. Mr Harris is due to travel to Luxembourg on Monday for talks with EU foreign ministers, where both the war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Gaza are high on the agenda.
The Sumy strike is the latest in a string of deadly assaults by Russian forces on civilian areas, despite repeated calls from Ukraine and its allies for a humanitarian ceasefire. Mr Harris emphasised that Kyiv has offered an unconditional ceasefire in hopes of fostering peace negotiations, only to be met with escalating violence from Moscow.
“Remember, all of this is happening against a backdrop of Ukraine having effectively said they accepted an unconditional ceasefire to provide space for peace talks,” Harris continued.
“And yet, every single day, President Putin continues to put obstacles in relation to that ceasefire being in place, whilst continuing to bombard Ukraine. What we’ve seen today is a despicable act that has impacted on civilians going about their daily lives.”
The Tanaiste’s remarks reflect Ireland’s ongoing stance of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, with Dublin consistently advocating for a rules-based international order, and condemning Russia’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
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“Russia has demonstrated yet again it has no interest in peace and is intent on continuing its illegal war,” Harris said.
“Ireland is working with our European and international partners to support Ukraine in the face of continuing Russian aggression. We will continue to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.”
The Sumy attack also comes just days before several key international summits, including a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting, where Ukraine’s calls for increased military support and tougher sanctions on Russia are expected to dominate discussions.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as another act of terror and again urged Western leaders to accelerate delivery of air defence systems, arguing that continued delays were costing innocent lives.
Meanwhile, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said the bloc would respond with renewed pressure on Moscow, warning that targeting civilians amounts to a war crime under international law.
As the war drags into its third year, the attack on Sumy stands as a grim reminder of the toll on Ukraine’s civilian population — and the growing urgency of global efforts to secure peace, however distant it may seem.
