SUMY, Ukraine — Emergency crews worked through smoke and debris in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region after an overnight Russian attack damaged homes and injured six people, including a child, local authorities said.
Images released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showed firefighters spraying burning houses, collapsed roofs, scorched walls and rescue teams clearing rubble from damaged structures. Officials said the strike hit residential areas, adding to the pressure on communities in Sumy, a border region that has faced repeated Russian bombardment throughout the war.
The attack came during a wider overnight assault in which Russia launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 116 drones against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The drones included Shahed-type attack drones, Gerbera and Italmas unmanned aircraft, as well as decoy drones intended to overwhelm air defences. Ukrainian forces said they intercepted or electronically jammed 109 of the drones across northern, eastern and southern regions.
The air force said impacts from the ballistic missile and five drones were recorded at five locations, while falling debris from intercepted drones caused damage in four other areas. The military said air defence units, electronic warfare teams, mobile fire groups and other forces were involved in repelling the attack.
Sumy’s location near the Russian border makes it particularly vulnerable to missiles, drones and artillery. Residents in the region often have only a short warning time before incoming strikes, while emergency teams are frequently forced to respond under difficult conditions, including fires, damaged power lines and the risk of follow-up attacks.
Local officials said one child was among those injured in the latest strike. No deaths were immediately reported in Sumy, but authorities warned that damage assessments were continuing.
The latest attack came as both Russia and Ukraine continue long-range strikes despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities. Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Ukraine has expanded strikes on military, energy and industrial targets inside Russia.
Kyiv says Moscow’s repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure are exhausting local emergency services and leaving communities across frontline regions in a constant state of fear. Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians, but residential neighbourhoods, schools, hospitals and energy facilities have repeatedly been damaged throughout the war.
For residents of Sumy, the overnight strike was another reminder that even as diplomacy continues, the war’s immediate reality remains fires, shattered homes and rescue teams searching through debris before dawn.
