The Security Service, in cooperation with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, has identified and collected evidence against the high command of the russian forces who organised the missile strike on Sumy on 13 April 2025, on Palm Sunday.

The investigation established that the ruscists attacked the centre of the frontline city with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

The attack killed 35 people, including two children. 125 people, 22 of whom were minors, sustained injuries of varying severity.

Nearly 100 civilian infrastructure facilities were destroyed or damaged, including apartment buildings, educational institutions, shops, public transportation, and architectural landmarks of local significance.

According to the investigation, the initiators of the strike were the chief of staff – first deputy commander of the joint group of forces (armed forces) of the russian federation in Ukraine, colonel general Aleksei Kim – and his deputy, the chief of intelligence, colonel Vasily Solovyov.

On Kim’s orders, officials from the firepower planning and coordination centre of the joint group of forces (armed forces) of the russian federation in Ukraine were responsible for preparing the missile strike:

• vice admiral Sergei Pinchuk – head of the centre and deputy commander (for firepower);
• colonel Aleksander Kisedobrev – head of the centre’s missile forces and artillery;
• rear admiral Aleksei Petrushin – head of the centre’s intelligence control center (for enemy fire damage);
• colonel Anatoly Gorodetsky – chief of staff of the centre – deputy head of missile forces and artillery.

The following individuals directly issued orders to launch ballistic missiles from the Kursk and Voronezh regions:

• colonel Roman Polushin – commander of the 448^th missile brigade;
• colonel Sergey Ponomarev – commander of the 112^th missile brigade.

Based on the evidence, Security Service investigators notified all eight russian military officials in absentia of suspicion under Article 438.2 of the CCU (war crimes resulting in the death of people, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy).

Efforts to bring the individuals involved to justice are ongoing.

The investigation was conducted by the SSU Sumy Office in cooperation with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.