Russian drones launched a devastating attack on the northern Ukrainian town of Konotop in the Sumy region, causing significant damage to the town’s energy infrastructure and injuring at least 14 civilians. The strike, which occurred overnight, left Konotop without electricity, prompting rescue efforts to restore power to critical facilities.
According to local officials, the attack resulted in 10 explosions, with Mayor Artem Semenikhin describing the power system as being in critical condition. At least 14 people were injured, with two hospitalized, including one in a coma. The strike also damaged seven apartment buildings, medical and educational institutions, a shop, a bank, and a section of the town’s tramway.
Rescue teams are working to restore electricity to Konotop, which had a pre-war population of around 83,000. Semenikhin stated that energy personnel are doing everything possible to ensure that the hospital and water supply system receive power. However, the authorities are uncertain when residential areas will have their electricity restored.
Sumy region has been a particular target of Russian attacks in recent weeks. Last month, Ukraine used the region as a base for a surprise incursion into Russian territory in Kursk, aiming to gain an advantage as Russian forces gradually advance in eastern Ukraine.
While Ukraine initially made swift progress, its advances appear to have slowed, with a senior Russian commander claiming the recapture of approximately 10 settlements in a counteroffensive.
The attack on Konotop was part of a larger Russian operation involving 64 drones, according to the Ukrainian air force. They managed to intercept 44 of the drones across nine different regions. Such drone assaults have become a frequent occurrence, happening almost every night since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Russian drone strike also caused a fire at a furniture storage facility in the central Khmelnytskyi region, which emergency services were still working to extinguish on Thursday morning.
The governor of the northern Chernihiv region noted an increase in Russian attacks there over the past day, resulting in damage to regional infrastructure, although he did not specify what had been targeted.
