It was mid-morning on Palm SundayThe Christian feast falling on the Sunday before Easter. It celebrates Christ's entry into Jerusalem. in the Ukrainian city of SumyA city in northeastern Ukraine, with a population of 256,000. .

Suddenly, there was chaos. Two Russian missilesObjects (e.g. a stone, arrow, artillery shell, bullet, or rocket) that are thrown, shot, or launched usually so as to strike something at a distance. struck the city centre. Thirty-four people were killed and 117 others were injured.

This is the deadliest attack on civiliansPeople who are not in the army or the police. in at least two years.

RussiaThe largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people. and UkraineA country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022. have now been at war for more than three years. The current war began when RussiaThe largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people. invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

European leaders say Russia is the only country to blame for the war. But some experts say that we must accept that Ukraine is not the only one involved in the fight back. Vladimir PutinRussia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West., they say, is really at war with the whole of Europe.

Russia was once at the centre of the Soviet UnionOfficially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991. , which broke up in the 1990s. Since then, Russia has been trying to take back control over the countries that were once part of the group: Moldova, GeorgiaA state in the southern USA. Also a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia. , BelarusBelarus is an eastern European state that is a close ally of Russia. Run by Alexander Lukashenko, it is known as "the last dictatorship in Europe". and Ukraine.

Many other eastern European democraciesCountries which have a system of government based on the idea of rule by the people. were once under Russian rule, such as the BalticsThe three countries on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. .

Many experts believe Russia is a direct threat to these countries. Ukraine may be simply the first stage in an invasion of all of eastern Europe.

At the same time, Putin is looking to weaken western European countries.

Is Europe already at war?

Yes! Russia will not rest until it has power over much of Europe. Every country is at risk. We should not pretend this is not true.

No! Putin's aims are quite clear. He wants power over countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. This is bad - but it does not put the whole of Europe in danger.

Palm Sunday - The Christian feast falling on the Sunday before Easter. It celebrates Christ's entry into Jerusalem.

Sumy - A city in northeastern Ukraine, with a population of 256,000.

Missiles - Objects (e.g. a stone, arrow, artillery shell, bullet, or rocket) that are thrown, shot, or launched usually so as to strike something at a distance.

Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.

Russia - The largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.

Ukraine - A country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

Vladimir Putin - Russia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.

Soviet Union - Officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A powerful group of communist republics, the biggest being Russia, that existed from 1922 to 1991.

Georgia - A state in the southern USA. Also a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia.

Belarus - Belarus is an eastern European state that is a close ally of Russia. Run by Alexander Lukashenko, it is known as "the last dictatorship in Europe".

Democracies - Countries which have a system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.

Baltics - The three countries on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.