Russian Attacks on Medical Center in Sumy Leave Nine Dead
KYIV — In a devastating series of events, two consecutive Russian attacks on a medical center in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy resulted in the deaths of at least nine people on Saturday morning, according to Ukrainian officials.
Escalation of Violence
The first strike claimed one life, and as patients and staff were being evacuated, Russia launched a second attack, as reported by Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
Local authorities in Sumy confirmed that Shahed drones were used in the attack, with twelve others reported injured by Sumy’s City Military administration.
Strategic Positioning
Situated approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Russia’s Kursk region, Sumy has had Ukrainian troops deployed nearby since August, with the aim of diverting Russian forces from the front lines within Ukraine.
Air Battles
Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted 69 out of 73 Russian drones overnight, as well as shooting down two out of four missiles launched. In Kyiv, authorities reported the destruction of around 15 drones over the capital and surrounding areas.
President’s Hometown Targeted
In Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, officials discovered the body of a man under rubble following a missile strike on an administrative building on Friday, bringing the death toll from that attack to four.
Retaliatory Actions
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported shooting down four Ukrainian drones over Belgorod and one over Kursk, both bordering Ukraine.
Additionally, Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border city of Shebekino resulted in the death of one person and injuries to two others, according to Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. — Agencies
