As a result of the Russian attack, 14 people were injured, and three hospitalized.
42-year-old Denys Horokh, who had been helping people in Konotop after the initial strikes, passed away in the hospital today. He had sustained burns on 45% of his body. When he was at the site of the hit, another drone exploded nearby. The city is still recovering from the Russian drone attack that took place the night before last. Over a third of the population has been without electricity for more than a day.
The report by TSN correspondent Valentyna Dobrota provides more details on the situation in Konotop and when the city might return to normal life.
The aftermath of the shelling of Konotop
Only the bathroom remained intact in the apartment of 84-year-old Raisa. A second wall saved it, behind which the woman had taken shelter. A temporary shelter has been organized for those who lost their homes. Ms. Raisa could have moved in with the wife of her grandson, who is defending the country. For the second day there has been no electricity, gas, and her stove is broken. But there is still water, and she has decided to stay in her home. Municipal workers helped Raisa remove the charred furniture and shattered glass from her apartment.
Serhiy's apartment, in the same building, was completely burned out. He spent the night at his mother’s place and returned the next morning to clean up. Along with a friend, they sifted through the wet ashes, hoping to find something that survived.
That night, after the first explosion, Serhiy immediately went downstairs, and two minutes later, the strike hit his apartment. He still has no idea what to do with his home next.
Damage assessment
Balcony slabs were destroyed in the building. The city council allocated 250,000 hryvnias from the road fund to inspect the multi-story building to determine its exact condition. The total number of destroyed homes is still being counted. Three commissions have been formed, and their members are visiting each apartment to record the damage and estimate the losses.
"We document the damage and provide initial advice on how residents can apply for compensation," says Oksana Kvashuk, a city council official. Some windows have already been boarded up with plywood or film, but there is too much damage to fix everything in one day.
Hospital without windows
The Russian attack left 14 people injured, three of whom were hospitalized. One of them passed away today in the hospital. The hospital itself lost 270 windows. Fortunately, patients were unharmed as they managed to get to the shelter in time. However, there are no funds to replace the windows, so the patients will remain in damaged wards for now.
Sumy region, which stretches along the Russian border, is being relentlessly shelled by enemy forces. Where guided aerial bombs cannot reach, missiles and drones are launched, and multiple rocket launchers are used. In part of the region, mandatory evacuation has been announced as a preventive measure. This applies primarily to hospitals, educational institutions, people with limited mobility, and families with children.
What the Russians hit
Konotop is the largest city in the region after Sumy, with an estimated population of 65,000, compared to 100,000 before the full-scale invasion. Russian missiles have previously struck here, destroying infrastructure and residential buildings, but this is the first time the consequences for the city have been so devastating.
Konotop residents endured several consecutive nighttime drone attacks. Initially, Russian forces targeted an energy facility, then deliberately struck residential buildings in the city center. According to the region's head, Volodymyr Artiukh, this was a calculated effort by the Russians to plunge the city into darkness, panic and chaos.
"This wasn’t just one building. There were five or six strikes, hitting kindergartens and lyceums. It was psychologically calculated to frighten people, to leave them unsure of what to do next," said Volodymyr Artiukh, Head of Sumy Regional Military Administration.
The drones fell right between residential buildings. The blast wave blew away a brick fence, and a nearby kindergarten was also destroyed. Six educational institutions were affected in total. Classes had already been moved online, but due to the strikes, they have been temporarily suspended.
Konotop still without power supply
Water supply in the city was restored yesterday. Energy workers managed to quickly restore power to the water utility and the hospital. However, when the entire city will have power again is still uncertain, according to Mayor Artem Semenikhin. The energy sector needs new equipment to replace what was destroyed.
Due to the lack of electricity, the local bakery has stopped operating, and tons of dough have spoiled. However, there is no bread shortage, as supplies are being brought in from other communities. Meanwhile, emergency crews are working to repair damaged power lines. In addition, 12.5 meters of tram tracks will need to be replaced after a drone crashed onto the track. Although three trams from another route were in service in the morning, they had to return to the depot due to insufficient voltage.
Stations have been set up for charging gadgets, and the “Points of Invincibility” have become makeshift offices throughout Konotop.
According to the city council, the city budget cannot handle such a load. They are unsure how they will start the heating season. The city is requesting the return of taxes that were taken from communities in border areas with Russia. For now, the only help the city can provide to victims is through human resources.
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