School and houses damaged by night strike in Sumy for the second time

The Russian army struck a drone near a building housing a primary school and kindergarten. A tree saved the institution from a direct hit. The blast wave damaged the windows of a nine-story building nearby for the second time, said Deputy Mayor Stanislav Polyakov.

The blast wave destroyed the roof and ceiling, and broke out the windows in the institution.

More than 200 children were studying in the shelter of the institution: about 150 schoolchildren and 80 preschoolers, says English teacher Nataliya Kokhanova. She says that the Russian army is attacking the school for the second time.

“This class suffered the most last time. The desks, thank God, are intact, there are no windows, not even the inserted windows that were already there. To be honest, we didn’t even think that something would happen: as they say, you can’t get into the same place twice, but not in our case,” said English teacher Nataliya Kokhanova.

The Russian drone aimed specifically at the educational institution, the school was saved from a direct hit by a tree – the “shaheed” exploded, crashing into the trunk, said Deputy Mayor Stanislav Polyakov:

“Now there are many windows and a roof flying out. The elementary school with a kindergarten, accordingly, is not working now, the consequences are being eliminated.”

The blast wave also destroyed the windows and balcony blocks in the nine-story building opposite. This building was also damaged by an explosion in the spring of 2025, says local resident Alla.

“This is the second time the house has suffered. It was, they put up windows, and this is the second time. Well, this time it’s worse,” said local resident Alla.

“My husband and I were sleeping and just woke up after we heard the windows flying out. And we have a car here, one and two cars. A log flew into our trunk,” said Ksenia Provozion.

The explosions occurred at night, around four in the morning, says local resident Mykola Kosenko: “I just heard something falling, and a bang. And the cat ran away, and he was sleeping in the hall. Well, I think, somewhere nearby.”

Beneath the windows and in the entrances lie damaged window blocks. They were recently replaced, says Mr. Mykola’s neighbor Valyukh Valiukh. The woman says: she installed new windows in her own home two months ago, now they are broken again.

“They were all installed, all were knocked out. Now both the balcony and the balcony frame, only the frame remained, this glass flew away. Only one broke out, and this one was only installed – and then again,” says Valentyna Valiukh.

They plan to close the maximum number of damaged windows, says Deputy Mayor Stanislav Polyakov.

“The most destroyed of our houses is the 15th building. This entire side is destroyed, about 200 windows in this house. And in other locations, which are nearby houses, well, in total about 300 windows. From 9:00 we will also announce a meeting with residents in the shelter,” said Deputy Mayor Stanislav Polyakov.

There is a lot of work to eliminate the consequences, says the head of Sumy Dobrobat Oleksiy Klyuyev: we have to connect the maximum number of assistants.

“I think that absolutely all volunteer organizations and utility companies will be represented here now, because there really is a lot of work. Currently, it is known that 300 window blocks have been broken, but this is preliminary. We understand that this information will change, and we are now involving absolutely all volunteers.”