"This happens every day, all across Ukraine. It has already become a part of our lives. And then comes the day when the target is your home," says Volodymyr Sylvanovskyi, a resident of the building hit by a Russian drone on January 30.

After the explosion, Volodymyr tried to help his neighbors on the floor—he opened the door and saw an abyss beyond it... Later, he found out that among the 11 people killed were his neighbors.

Almost every day, Sumy suffers from strikes by guided bombs, kamikaze drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles. Government and intelligence representatives have repeatedly stated that the Kursk operation is a preventive measure against a Russian invasion of Sumy Oblast.

It is heartening that, despite the difficult conditions, the city still has a highly active and high-quality local youth media outlet, @cukr.city. Their content and projects can rival those of the largest Ukrainian cultural media.
Naturally, much of their content also reflects on the war.

On a clear day, explosions from the border area can be heard very well in the city. The border is just 30 km away.