Zelenskyy to Fire Sumy Governor After Deadly Russian Strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is moving to dismiss the governor of Sumy, following a devastating Russian missile attack on the city Sunday.

Government Confirms Plans to Remove Volodymyr Artiukh

The Ukrainian government supports Zelenskyy’s decision to fire Governor Volodymyr Artiukh, according to parliamentary representative Taras Melnychuk on Telegram.

Official: Comments Sparked Dismissal

A senior government official told AFP that the dismissal is directly tied to comments Artiukh made on Monday regarding the attack.

Artiukh Admitted Troop Gathering Was Underway

Artiukh confirmed to national broadcaster Suspilne that Ukrainian troops were assembled in Sumy during the time of the Russian strike — but claimed he did not organize it and was only an invited guest.

“He Messed Up Badly”

The unnamed official told AFP that Artiukh had long been considered ineffective, and this tragedy was “the final straw.”
– “He really messed up,” the source said.

Sunday’s Attack Killed 35 People

The Russian missile strike killed 35 people and injured around 120, making it one of the deadliest recent attacks in Ukraine’s northeast.

Civilians and Children Among the Dead

Ukrainian authorities confirmed that at least two soldiers and multiple civilians, including children, were killed in the blast.

Russia Claims It Targeted Military Meeting

Moscow stated Monday that the attack targeted a meeting of Ukrainian military leaders — a claim Kyiv has not confirmed.

Missiles Hit on Palm Sunday

According to Ukrainian officials, the attack involved two ballistic missiles that struck central Sumy as people gathered to mark Palm Sunday.

Fallout and Leadership Shake-Up

As anger mounts over the deadly strike, Zelenskyy’s government appears determined to hold local officials accountable — starting with Sumy’s soon-to-be-dismissed governor.