Guided bomb strikes on Sumy injure seven, damage gas network and business

Seven people were injured and a gas network and a business facility were damaged after guided aerial bombs struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, local officials said.

According to regional authorities, the strikes hit residential and commercial areas of Sumy, a city close to the Russian border that has repeatedly come under attack since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Officials said emergency crews were dispatched to the scene to assist the injured and begin repairs to the damaged gas infrastructure. The extent of the damage to the business facility was not immediately detailed.

Repeated attacks on Sumy

Sumy, located roughly 30 kilometers from the Russian border, has been a frequent target of Russian strikes throughout the war, given its proximity to Russian territory and its strategic location in northeastern Ukraine.

Guided aerial bombs, which Russia has increasingly used against Ukrainian cities, are launched from aircraft and can carry large payloads, often causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure and making them difficult to intercept with standard air-defense systems.

Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly called on Western allies to provide additional air-defense systems to protect border cities like Sumy from such attacks. There was no immediate comment from Russian officials on the strike, and the full extent of casualties and damage was still being assessed.