Mandatory evacuation ordered in Sumska as tensions escalate

In the Sumska region of Ukraine, a mandatory evacuation from 23 settlements in 5 municipalities has been announced. This covers a border area of about 10 kilometres. According to the Sumy Regional Military Administration head, the evacuation involves 6,000 people, including 425 children.

A mandatory evacuation from 23 settlements in 5 municipalities is underway in the Sumska region, as reported on the Telegram channel of the Sumy Regional Military Administration.

"We are talking about approximately 6,000 people, including 425 children," said the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, Volodymyr Artiukh.

He emphasised that the priority is the evacuation of families with children and assured that places for them to live are currently being prepared.

"The situation in the Sumska region is quite tense. The air alarm lasted more than 24 hours. I am grateful to our Armed Forces and air defence forces, who even destroy ballistic missiles," said the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration. He added, "many of the explosions that residents of the Sumska region hear today are the work of our air defence."

According to him, the military command believes that the situation is under control by the Armed Forces.

Volodymyr Artiukh also commented on the electricity supply situation in the region, saying that it "has stabilised". "Almost all critical infrastructure facilities are operating normally," he assured.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces crossed the Russian border and entered the Kursk region, bordering Ukraine’s Sumska region, on Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, about 400 soldiers were reported to have crossed the border.