Mandatory evacuation announced for eight more settlements in Sumy region

Volodymyr Artiukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, announced this on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"Today, the Regional Defense Council held a meeting where security issues were a top priority. Military and security forces provided an assessment of the situation. According to operational data from our military, the situation at the border is tense but under control. Russian troops have not crossed the border or captured any settlement in the Sumy region," he said.

Artiukh urged residents of the Sumy region not to fall for Russian psychological operations and to rely only on official sources of information.

At the same time, he noted that enemy sabotage groups and aerial attacks -- such as glide bombs (KABs) and FPV drones -- have increased in intensity in border areas.

He said that the only way to protect civilians from these threats is through evacuation.

"Due to the deteriorating operational situation in the region, continued shelling by Russia, and the need to protect civilians, the Defense Council has decided, at the request of the military command, to conduct a mandatory evacuation from eight settlements in the Yunakivka and Myropillia communities. A total of 543 people, including children, will need to be evacuated soon," Artiukh said.

Authorities have been tasked with conducting the evacuation as quickly as possible, with assistance from the National Police, the State Emergency Service, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The regional governor appealed to residents of the affected communities to comply with the evacuation orders and not endanger themselves or their loved ones.

"Unfortunately, we face a problem: the head of communities and district military administrations report that some people are refusing to evacuate. I urge them to recognize the seriousness of the situation and make the only right decision -- to save their lives. Furthermore, those who stay behind significantly limit the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in eliminating the enemy," Artiukh concluded.