Morning Shock in Sumy: Russian Drones Attacked the City, Causing Damage and Casualties
It all began early in the morning on May 21, when residents of Sumy found themselves under an unexpected attack by Russian drones. According to Oleksandr Hryhorovych, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, as well as confirmed by Sumy Mayor Artem Kobzar and the head of the local military administration, Serhii Kryvoshenko, this attack resulted in significant destruction and emergency situations. Hryhorovych stated that the morning in Sumy started with a massive air raid when the city was attacked by Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles. Enemy drones struck industrial facilities in the city, destroying parts of production lines and damaging infrastructure objects. As a result of the strikes, fires broke out, which are already being extinguished or are under control by the relevant services. Additionally, power lines were damaged, leaving part of the city without stable electricity supply. Hryhorovych’s direct quote: "This morning, Sumy was under attack by Russian UAVs. There have been hits on industrial facilities, power lines have been damaged. Fires have broken out as a result of the strikes. Preliminary reports indicate one person injured. Part of the regional center is without power," he said. According to Mayor Artem Kobzar, the enemy launched at least seven Shahed-type drone strikes on two industrial enterprises. Five strikes targeted one facility, and two targeted the other. This indicates a deliberate attack focused on destroying critical industrial outputs in the city. At the same time, some areas experienced short-term disruptions in electricity and water supply. Serhii Kryvoshenko, head of the Sumy Military Administration, noted that some critical infrastructure objects — water supply, energy, and communication systems — have temporarily switched to backup power sources. "Critical infrastructure sites are being transferred to generators to prevent an even greater crisis. Relevant services are working to address the damage, but the recovery process is technically complicated," he added. This attack has been one of the most serious in the region in recent months. According to military and local authorities, responding to such enemy actions requires even greater vigilance and coordinated efforts among civil services to quickly eliminate consequences and ensure the city’s stability. Currently, the number of casualties has decreased to one, but the safety of residents and infrastructure objects remains at risk. The authorities urge residents to stay calm and be prepared for any emergencies. This is not the first attempt this year by the enemy to damage Sumy’s infrastructure, but such attacks only increase tension in the region. The local government promised to make every effort to quickly restore damaged facilities and strengthen the city’s defense system against possible new attacks.