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On April 13, 2025, Palm Sunday, a day of peace and reflection for Christians worldwide, our city of Sumy suffered one of the deadliest attacks since the beginning of the full-scale war.
Two Russian ballistic missiles struck the heart of the city. One hit directly the Congress Center of Sumy State University – the very place where the Lifelong Learning Centre held hundreds of trainings, educational events, and community gatherings. That morning, a children’s theater performance was scheduled to take place in the small auditorium.
The second missile exploded mid-air, scattering cluster munitions across nearby streets. The result was catastrophic:
- 35 people killed, including 2 children
- 129 people injured, among them 15 children
- Dozens of residential buildings, cafés, shops, schools, and even a trolleybus were damaged
As our team mourns, we share these words from our colleague, who worked in the destroyed office:
“I don’t know what I feel besides
emptiness.
There are no words that could convey this pain.
But silence is impossible.
We must remember. We must speak. We must resist.”
The Ukrainian government has declared three days of mourning. Leaders across the world condemned the attack, calling it a war crime.
For us, the Lifelong Learning Centre, this is not only a personal loss — it is a wound to our community and a stark reminder of why we must continue our mission. Education, resilience, and solidarity remain the strongest response to aggression.
We will rebuild. And we will continue to stand for life, dignity, and freedom.
To donate & help restore the Center, you may here https://campsite.bio/help_sumdu
