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Putin Admits Hitting Civilian Site in Sumy, Cites Alleged Military Use
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![Photo of Lucile Brizard]( "Photo of Lucile Brizard")
Russian leader Vladimir Putin acknowledged that Russian forces struck a civilian facility in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, but claimed the target was being used for military purposes, Russian state news agency TASS reported on April 21.
The statement comes one week after a Russian ballistic missile attack hit the city center of Sumy on April 13, killing at least 35 people, two of them children, and injuring over 120, according to Ukrainian officials.
Putin alleged that the site was being used by the Ukrainian military. “Strikes on civilian objects are carried out if they are used by the Kyiv military,” he said, repeating a narrative commonly used by Russian state media.
He further claimed that the venue had been used to honor individuals accused by Moscow of actions against Russian forces. “These are the people whom Russia considers criminals who should receive deserved retribution for what they did,” Putin said.
Putin also made comments linking civilian facilities with military activity: “The Armed Forces of Ukraine hold gatherings, meetings, conferences in restaurants, celebrate something, drink vodka. Is this a civilian facility? Civilian. But what is the purpose? Military. This needs to be sorted out. This is all a subject for thorough study, possibly bilaterally, as a result of dialogue. We do not rule it out. So we will analyze all this and make appropriate decisions.”
Ukrainian officials have dismissed the claim that Sumy State University’s Congress Centre was a military site.
The university has not been linked to any military activity, and photos released by the State Emergency Service show extensive civilian damage from the missile strike.
In related news, Russian leader Vladimir Putin ratified a strategic partnership agreement with Iran, formalizing cooperation across multiple sectors.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
