Kyiv: Ukrainian authorities announced on Sunday that the death toll from the Russian missile strike on the center of Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine, has risen to at least 31 people, with 84 others injured.

According to Qatar News Agency, Ukraine's Emergency Service stated on social media that Russia struck the city center with ballistic missiles at a time when many people were in the streets, resulting in the current toll of 31 killed and 84 wounded.

Sumy is located about 50 kilometers from the Russian border and had largely remained away from the intense fighting in the south, particularly in the Donetsk region. However, Kyiv warned in recent weeks of a potential large-scale Russian offensive targeting the city.

On Thursday, Russia announced that it had taken control of a town in the Sumy region-a rare advance in this part of northeastern Ukraine, from which Russian forces had withdrawn in the spring of 2022.