Next to the enemy: Life in the Sumy border region under the constant threat of artillery and drones.

During the Kursk operation, the Defense Forces managed to push Russian troops away from the border, but the Russians found new ways to terrorize the local population. How do residents of the border territories of Sumy live near the combat zone – in a report by military correspondent of RBK-Ukraine Bohdana Liaskovska.

The Sumy region, bordering Russia, managed to withstand the initial phase of the full-scale invasion – the occupiers were expelled fairly quickly from here. Despite this, the proximity to the enemy did not allow residents of the border zone to live in peace. Cities and villages were constantly subjected to artillery shelling and rocket attacks. However, the enemy did not abandon plans for a renewed offensive on Sumy. Therefore, the Ukrainian Defense Forces preemptively conducted the Kursk operation. Currently, the Russians are attempting to launch their counteroffensive, making this region, including the Ukrainian border areas, one of the hottest spots on the front.

Military personnel advise against traveling to one of the villages located in the border zone, very close to the combat actions in the Kursk region. The Russians are heavily deploying drones and strike UAVs here. However, on a rainy day, permission is granted – in bad weather, drones are unlikely to fly, so it’s possible to take the risk.

The road is short, not too far from Sumy; the war is very close to the regional center. On the roadside, a sign reads "Controlled Border Zone." Here, we immediately turn on the "sugar" device. This familiar gadget tracks the movement of hostile UAVs. In this settlement, we will be exposed to the enemy, so we turn on the "sugar" to quickly evacuate from the car in case of danger. If a drone approaches – we scatter to different places, under trees or bushes.

The first sign that we are approaching Russia is a blown-up car on the roadside. Next are several houses reduced to rubble. The last six months have transformed the familiar landscape: the number of ruins has significantly increased, while the number of people has drastically decreased.

The streets of the village are deserted. There are no people. Just last spring, locals could be seen here, but now the remaining residents stay indoors. In the center of the village was a large store; as we approach it – there are only ruins. The roof lets in raindrops, which drip down the shattered windows. A few items surprisingly remain on the shelf.

Each shot has a limited amount of time. We cannot stay in one place for long. Moving on: the fire station is destroyed, the post office is demolished, and yet another shop is ruined. Everything that could sustain the people's lives has been destroyed by the Russians.

In the village, a local teacher remains. The school is also damaged, but she continues to conduct lessons even under shelling. Lyudmyla leads me to the basement. There are two beds, a television, a router, and on the shelves, like a good housewife, jars of vegetables for the winter are neatly arranged.

"My men set everything up for me. The internet works here even when there is no electricity. So during shelling, I can continue teaching the kids," – says Lyudmyla.

6She shares that it has become very difficult to stay in the village. The Russians constantly shell with rockets and use various types of UAVs, hunting civilians. Unfortunately, there have been fatal cases. A man, who was also a former teacher, died right at home.

Locals report that UAVs fly here around the clock, dozens a day, terrorizing the population. Recently, an FPV drone targeted a family on the street.

Now I understand why it is so empty everywhere. People are afraid to leave their homes, as death lurks outside.

One of the villagers joined the territorial defense forces at the beginning of the war and now works as a combat medic, stating that he has repeatedly had to assist civilians with injuries.

"When the mass shelling began, hospitals and all services evacuated. Now, no one but us is left to help the people," – he recounts.

The young man mentions that after the start of the Kursk operation, things have improved: the enemy has been pushed back from the border, and they can no longer shell the villages in the border regions.

Residents of the village often have to defend their homes from enemy UAVs themselves. In the garage of a local man, there is already a whole collection of downed drones of various types, from large "wings" to small UAVs. Interestingly, some drones are made from improvised materials, foam, and cardboard. Apparently, they were assembled by students. According to the man, drone production in Russia has been ramped up, allowing for their daily launch in large numbers.

"We shot down drones with hunting rifles, small arms, and our military friends helped us, and sometimes electronic warfare systems jammed them. We defend our homes as best we can," – shares a local resident.

7 Volodymyr Artyukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, states that the Russians intentionally try to destroy the infrastructure and all life-sustaining facilities of the locals to clear this area of people. At the same time, the administration is doing everything possible to evacuate residents to save their lives.

"Since the start of the Kursk operation, shelling of the Sumy region using rockets has increased by hundreds of times, totaling 30-40 cases of combat use of these weapons per day. Last year, there were only isolated cases, but now these uses are systematic, particularly against our critical infrastructure and populated areas. These are private homes or apartment buildings. The goal is to demoralize the population, forcing them to leave the territory," – explains Artyukh.

Belopolye

This town has constantly suffered from Russian artillery shelling. The entire main street is pockmarked by "Grad" missiles. The facades of surviving houses bear dents from shell fragments. The enemy is only five kilometers away from here.

From one of the hills, the territory of Russia is clearly visible. It is cloudy now, but on a clear day, locals can observe the movements of Russians and the settlement of Tetkino.

On this same hill, overlooking Russia, stands a ruined house, and behind it is a street of ruins that were once homes. Locals recall the terrifying night when the Russians shelled with cluster munitions – using weapons against civilians prohibited by the Geneva Convention.

Vladimir Viduev, deputy chairman of the Belopolye City Council, shares: the uniqueness of this community is that it is located on a hill, making it easy for enemies to observe and strike the town and its surroundings.

"Recently, there was an incident at the border, where two men died as a result of shelling. But due to the constant shelling, they could not be retrieved. It was only a month later that the military managed to evacuate the bodies. We buried them in a Christian manner," – recounts Viduev.

Many homes in the city are destroyed: a school, a kindergarten, a cultural center, police stations, and hundreds of houses of peaceful residents. The Russians even struck a football locker room. And on the stadium, craters from airstrikes still remain.

The city hospital is under constant shelling. The Russians have targeted it multiple times. After another attack, offices were destroyed, and all windows were blown out. But doctors cannot stop their work, as people with injuries needing help come to them every day.

Medical staff are forced to adapt to the military realities, as they must work even under airstrikes. In the hospital's basement, they have set up a ward for patients. Beds with neatly made blankets are lined up in several rows, and on both sides are nightstands with food supplies and water reserves. Everything necessary is available for patients to wait out the danger.

But the most important things are behind the door of the next room. Here, they have set up an underground operating room.

"We often have to perform surgeries during shelling. We receive patients with injuries, usually from explosive devices. To protect the doctors themselves – we perform surgeries here in the basement," – explains Iryna Okhrimenko, deputy chief physician of the Belopolye city hospital.

Many elderly people still remain in the city. They have lived here their entire lives and, despite the difficult situation, do not want to leave their homes.

On the street, I meet an elderly woman, Halyna. She and her husband survived airstrikes. A rocket hit near the pensioners' house. The woman leads us to the neighboring house, which is completely destroyed inside and unfit for living, and then takes us to her own home.

3In her house, partial repairs have been made to the demolished roof. The walls have cracks and pieces of finishing are missing.

"I remember the terrible explosions. It felt like