Evacuation Announced in Sumy Region as Russia Intensifies Shelling

Evacuation operations have begun in Bilopillia and Vorozhba in the Sumy Region of northeastern Ukraine due to Russia’s constant shelling. 

The evacuation was announced by the Sumy Regional Military Administration. 

"We have to protect our population. This is our main task, which was given to me by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is not a forced evacuation, but an early voluntary one from those settlements where the shelling has increased significantly," said Volodymyr Artyukh, Governor of Sumy Region, during the staff meeting.

During his daily speech, on May 13th, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed reports of hostile activity targeting the Sumy and Chernihiv Regions, including sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

It is worth noting that from January to April of this year, 40 residents were killed and 110 were injured, including 13 children, in the territory of Sumy Region due to Russia’s shelling and airstrikes. Over the past week, 3 people died, 7 were injured, including 3 children.

Meanwhile, the evacuation of the population from border villages within the 5-kilometer zone from the border with the Russian Federation, which began in July 2023, continues in the region. Residents of 115 border settlements in 15 communities of 4 districts of the region, are under constant enemy fire and are subject to evacuation.

On May 10 evacuation operations started in Vovchansk city, Kharkiv Region after Russia started a new wave of offensive actions in the Kharkiv direction.