Themes by tag: Sumy

Valentyna Hantseva has been working in the library of Soldatske village, Sumy oblast for 32 years. A few months before the full-scale invasion, the library had undergone modern renovation and purchased new equipment. But the building of the library could not withstand the air strike of the russians, who aimed right at the center of the occupied village. Only the roof and walls remained of the library: everything inside the building was damaged by the blast wave. Despite the occupation and the enemy aircraft, Valentyna, together with her husband, began to gather the undamaged books and hide them in grain sacks. The woman managed to take out and save more than 1000 books.

In April 2022, the Ukrainian military de-occupied the village. A philanthropist from Germany helped restore the library premises, and last fall, Valentyna opened the doors of the library to readers again.

• culture
• occupation
• women
• Sumy

Oksana Anisimova got down to setting up a museum in the Zemlianka village. It happened after the villagers decided to rename Lenin Street and name it after one of their prominent fellow villagers. That’s how the residents learned about their fellow countrywoman, Pelaheia Lytvynova-Bartosh, an ethnographer and researcher who worked in this area in the late 19th century. Pelaheia’s example inspired people to establish an ethnographic museum. In the museum, villagers collect ancient artifacts that they have kept since the time of their great-grandmothers and restore forgotten Ukrainian customs. Before the outbreak of the full-scale war, the museum was visited by many tourists, including foreigners. Although the enemy army did not occupy the village of Zemlianka in the Sumy region, the border area became dangerous to stay at.

• culture
• Sumy

Dobrobat volunteers are helping to restore a destroyed school in Romny, Sumy region. They are currently clearing the rubble and repairing the roof of the workshop.

Four people: the school director, her deputy, a secretary, and a librarian died, the school building was destroyed, and the nearby facilities were vandalized as a result of a Russian drone hitting the educational institution on August 23. 

For reference, as of July 2023, according to the Ministry of Education, 180 schools were completely destroyed, and more than 1,300 educational institutions were damaged as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“Dobrobat” is a volunteer construction division that helps victims in the urgent restoration of housing and social infrastructure in the de-occupied territories.

• reconstruction
• russian crimes
• volunteers
• Sumy

The international organization “The Halo Trust” had been helping to demine the territory of Ukraine even before the start of the full-scale invasion. Currently, 800 Ukrainians are involved in mine clearing efforts in 5 regions: Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kyiv and Chernihiv. “The Halo Trust” also works at the sites of flooding caused by the breach of the Kakhovka Dam. In the last eight weeks alone, sappers discovered more than 5,000 mines in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions.

The international organization “The Halo Trust” surveys recently liberated Ukrainian lands, using the methodology tested in more than 30 countries of the world.

For reference: According to the State Emergency Service, 30% of the territory of Ukraine is mined. According to some assessments, it may take more than 10 years to clear the land.

• russian crimes
• Chernihiv
• Kharkiv
• Kyiv
• Mykolaiv
• Sumy

About 3,000 people are employed as part of the “Recovery Army” project, which aims to involve unemployed Ukrainians in community service. This project is already being implemented in seven oblasts: Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, Poltava, Rivne, and Zaporizhia.

The project allows unemployed Ukrainians to get paid for taking part in clearing rubble and rebuilding war-damaged housing, helping with gathering firewood for the military and the population. They can also unload or pack humanitarian aid, provide social services at Points of Invincibility, etc.

Currently, the largest number of unemployed people involved is in Sumy region, amounting to 725 individuals. Journalists can take a look at how the project is being implemented in practice.

• reconstruction
• Sumy

Almost 400 people in the Sumy region are employed within the scope of the “Army of Restoration” project, which provides involvement of unemployed Ukrainians to constructive social works. Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, formerly made this statement. According to her, the list of constructive social works may include timber harvesting for the needs of military and civilians, unloading humanitarian aids, strengthening of dams, clearing the roads of building debris, providing assistance to IDPs, people with disabilities and the elderly. People receive salaries for their work.

Important notice: journalists can see how the project is implemented in practice.

• reconstruction
• Sumy

Luhansk Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater will operate in the city of Sumy. Theater performances can be attended at the Sumy National Academic Theater of Drama and Musical Comedy named after M.S. Schepkin.

Earlier, due to the occupation, the Luhansk Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater moved from Luhansk to Severodonetsk. They worked there for 8 years. During russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the building used by Luhansk residents was destroyed by the russian troops.

• casualties
• culture
• Sumy