Sumy Region Urges Immediate Evacuation of Two Towns Amid Escalating Russian Attacks

Residents of the towns of Bilopillia and Vorozhba in the Sumy region have been urgently advised to evacuate.

“I urge the residents of Bilopillia and Vorozhba to evacuate immediately,” wrote Mykhailo Melnyk, head of the Sumy Regional State Administration, on Facebook on May 5.

On the night of May 5, Russian forces began shelling Bilopillia. As of 10:00 a.m., the Russian army continued to strike the area, according to community leader Yurii Zark.

“The attacks have been ongoing since 1 a.m. The shelling hasn’t stopped. All morning, there have been hits on the outskirts of the city, including tanks, artillery, and KABs,” said Zark.

He added that, given the worsening security situation, many people are leaving the community. “They understand the security situation is getting worse, so they are indeed evacuating,” he said. Those who can are leaving on their own, while some are signing up for evacuation assistance.

As a result of the attacks in Bilopillia, five private vehicles, a tire repair shop, and an auto service station were reportedly damaged. Additionally, a grain elevator caught fire.

In the Vorozhba community, there were drone strikes and artillery shelling overnight on May 5, causing damage to private homes.

In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that, according to intelligence, Russia was preparing for a new offensive in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. In April, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that Russia’s offensive on Sumy and Kharkiv had “already begun.”

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