Ukraine Announces Mandatory Evacuation in 23 Settlements in Sumy Region

Ukraine orders mandatory evacuation of 23 settlements in the northeastern Sumy region following increased Russian attacks. The evacuation of civilians covers a 10-kilometer border area.

The evacuation was announced by Volodymyr Artyukh, the Head of the Sumy Region Military Administration. According to Artyukh, 6,000 people are subject to evacuation, including 425 children. 

"The forces and means have already been prepared to protect and not expose our population to danger in these settlements," Artyukh added.

He added that the situation in the Sumy region is quite tense, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces are doing everything to repel Russia’s attacks, including ballistic missiles.

The Sumy region has been under massive Russian attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The shelling intensified in the last months, with Ukrainian officials reporting Russian troop build-ups near the Sumy region’s border in May.