On the evening of November 17, 2024, Russians launched a missile attack on a nine-story building in Sumy. At 08:47 on the morning of November 18, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that as of that time, 89 people were known to have been injured (including 11 children) and 11 people were killed (including 2 children) as a result of the attack. In turn, Russian propagandists write that the cause of the tragedy was not a Russian missile, but allegedly the unsuccessful work of the Ukrainian air defense.

However, this information is not true. This was reported by the Center for Counteracting Disinformation, citing the Sumy Region Prosecutor's Office. According to them, on November 17, using methods of warfare prohibited by international law, the Russians launched a missile strike on a densely populated residential area in Sumy. This, and not the work of the Ukrainian air defense, was the cause of the tragedy.

With this fake, Russian propagandists are trying to justify yet another war crime by the Russian army – the murder of civilians.

November 18-19 in Sumy have been declared days of mourning for those killed as a result of Russia's strike on the city. This was reported by the acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar.