On 19 September 2024, a Russian guided aerial bomb struck a geriatric care home in Sumy, northern Ukraine, resulting in the tragic death of one person and injuries to at least 12 others, according to local officials.
The attack occurred around 4 pm, severely damaging the five-story facility that housed 221 elderly residents, many of whom were bedridden. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to evacuate patients, providing medical aid in makeshift conditions on the lawn outside the building.
The attack is one of numerous examples of nearly daily strikes with guided bombs on civilian infrastructure in the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Sumy. To counter the threat, Ukraine attacked Russian airfields with UAVs numerous times and requested partners to give permission to utilize their missiles against targets inside Russia to diminish Russian capacities for aerial strikes.
Volodymyr Artiukh, head of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, initially reported that there were no fatalities but later confirmed that one person had died from injuries sustained in the blast. Nine others were hospitalized, some in critical condition.
“The strike caused significant damage, partially destroying the upper floors of the building,” said Artiukh. “Rescue teams evacuated 147 people from the facility, and thankfully, no one remains trapped under the rubble.”
All emergency services have been mobilized to assist with the evacuation and provide aid to those affected. Photos and videos released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine show the extent of the destruction and the ongoing rescue efforts.
Tragic news from Sumy today: A Russian strike hit a geriatric care facility, leading to the evacuation of bedridden patients. One woman was killed, and 12 other patients were injured.
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— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) September 19, 2024
This strike is part of ongoing Russian aggression targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure, with healthcare facilities often being a target, like the previous infamous strike this summer on the children’s hospital Okhmatdyt in the Kyiv city center.
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