64,000 cars ready to evacuate Sumy in Ukraine

With the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the Kursk region in Russia, the city of Sumy in Ukraine is once again on the front line. It has prepared an evacuation plan to clear its population in the event of an attack.

Sumy feels in danger. After reclaiming the territories of the Kursk oblast from the Ukrainians, could the Russian army continue its offensive across the border, in Sumy? The Ukrainian city was one of the first attacked in February 2022. A large city that was valiantly defended by its inhabitants and militiamen. The battle of Sumy lasted until 4 April 2022, with urban combat. It ended with a Ukrainian victory and the liberation of the suburbs of the city which had been invaded. The counteroffensive even pushed back the Russian troops into their country, in the Kursk oblast, which was then invaded in August 2024 by the Ukrainians. But the Russians, having regained the advantage in this part of the front line, could return in the coming days or weeks, despite the partial truce. Indeed, after recapturing the Kursk oblast in their country, Putin's soldiers might be tempted to cross the border to reconquer this strategic territory. Thus, Sumy is afraid.

Evacuation plan

Since the end of the 2022 battle, there are still 270,000 residents and 30,000 displaced people in the region of Sumy, in the north-east of Ukraine, just a few dozen kilometres from the Russian border. The city is regularly attacked by drones or missiles. One of the hospitals was hit on the night of 18 to 19 March once again by a kamikaze drone, as well as a second one during the day, on Wednesday.

In the event of ground or artillery confrontation, the municipal security services have announced to the population that an evacuation plan for the city has been put in place. In the event of combat, there will be 11 assembly points to move civilians as quickly as possible. This could entail take them to safety in other parts of the metropolis or an evacuation over a longer distance. 64,000 cars are ready to be requisitioned. The authorities don't provide further information. Thus, the "collection" points will remain secret until the very last minute.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Picture: © picture alliance / Anadolu | State Emergency Service of Ukraine)