Russian missile strike kills at least 31 in Ukrainian city of Sumy
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Russian Missile Strike Kills 32 in Ukraine's Sumy
Above: Rescuers work at the site of a Russian ballistic strike on April 13, 2025, in Sumy, Ukraine. Image copyright: Suspilne Ukraine/Contributor/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Russia's strike deliberately targeted civilians during a major religious holiday, demonstrating Russia's intent to terrorize the population and escalate the conflict despite diplomatic efforts. The attack proves that without increased international pressure on Russia, achieving peace is impossible, and mere talks cannot prevent such acts of aggression.
Pro-Russia narrative
Though Putin accepted a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to adhere to a 30-day pause on targeting energy facilities operated by Ukraine and Russia, Kyiv has been consistently violating the deal by carrying out attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. These provocations necessitate appropriate defensive responses to protect Russian interests and territory.