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This article was first published on September 4th, 2024.
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How Sumy is Being Restored
The current security situation in Sumy is eloquently illustrated by the headlines on a single page of local media, which might read: “Enemy drone downed”, “Constructing fortifications” “New podcast on city life launched”, and “Local craft festival to take place”. Living just 30 kilometres from the aggressor’s border, Sumy residents balance their efforts between investing in defence and funding city development.
In this article from the “Restoration” project, we explore how Sumy is coping with the aftermath of Russian shelling, constructing shelters, preparing for potential enemy attacks, and, more importantly, how it refuses to remain in a state of waiting for better times — life in the city continues to bustle.
We will speak with the director of a hospital damaged by the shelling, local government representatives, an architect involved in local projects, and the co-founder of a Sumy online magazine to understand how the city is recovering and developing during the war.
On shelters, medical care, and reconstruction
When local pharmacies closed at the beginning of the full-scale war, the Central City Clinical Hospital stepped in, distributing its medical supplies to Sumy residents. This support was particularly crucial for the elderly. Some patients even had to live at the hospital after finding out during their treatment that their villages had been occupied by the Russian army.
The hospital director, Valentyna Dominas, admits that on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, she was worried she might not find any staff at the hospital. However, her fears were unfounded.
“On 24 February (the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion – ed.), our entire team showed up, and we’ve been working as a full team ever since. Almost no one left their post.”
Not only did the staff stay and continue working, but they also managed to launch a cardiac surgery department amid the all-out war. For this purpose, the team invited specialists to the hospital, and even started performing organ transplants while hostilities unfolded across the country.
“There are fewer and fewer Ukrainians, and we must fight for every Ukrainian life.”
Despite repeated damage from Russian shelling, the hospital was repaired each time and continued to operate without interruption Valentyna recalls how, after the second shelling, the services, local authorities, and hospital staff came together to address the immediate consequences of the attack.
“There was about half an hour of confusion while everyone processed what had happened. Then, it became clear that we needed to collect the glass, remove the damaged windows, cover things up, and help wherever possible.”
The hospital has its development and improvement budget, part of which is allocated to fund repairs after shelling. Valentyna shared that it also covered the repairs to surgical equipment following an attack that damaged two operating rooms.
Deputy Mayor Stanislav Poliakov adds that the city receives substantial support from charitable organisations that either assist on-site after shelling or handle part of the restoration work. These organisations include Dobrobat, World Central Kitchen, Right to Protection, Caritas, Proliska, and others, which allow local authorities to focus on broader issues without spreading their efforts and resources too thin.
At the same time, Oleksii Drozdenko, the head of the Sumy City Military Administration, emphasises the need to properly coordinate all those willing to aid in the restoration efforts. He recalls instances when volunteers arrived at the site of enemy impact faster than the services that could assess whether it was safe to be there.
“Everyone is now well-coordinated, and everything works absolutely smoothly. When I arrive, there are people to work with and those who help. It’s a characteristic of ours: everyone rushes to the site of impact, rather than scattering.”
According to Oleksii Drozdenko, in 2024, the city experienced an increase in Russian drone strikes, the use of guided aerial bombs, and missile attacks. He says that the initial work at the site of impact begins immediately, sometimes even at night, to clear debris and restore essential services such as heat, electricity, gas, and water supply.
He reveals that the city authorities are actively expanding their network of shelters. Currently, Sumy has equipped around 300 shelters, with additional ones undergoing repairs, documentation, and approval by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (Ukraine’s fire and rescue service – ed.), gradually increasing their number.
“As for our overall strategy, we’ve chosen to invest specifically in defence.”
Oleksii admits that in 2022, the military administration took a more superficial approach to equipping shelters due to the urgency of the situation; to quickly increase the number of shelters, they simply cleared out basement spaces. Now, local authorities are intentionally allocating part of the budget to construct shelters that meet necessary requirements, such as ventilation, generators, heating, water supply, and sewage system. Those attached to schools or hospitals are equipped to continue teaching or providing medical care without having to wait until the end of an air raid.
“For instance, [during an air raid] the maternity hospital continues providing consultations with patients in the shelters. They have the necessary equipment, and it’s even possible to deliver babies there, which has already happened. The same applies to other healthcare facilities. In other words, the shelters serve dual purposes. The same goes for schools: it’s impressive to see how entire classes are organised [in the shelter].”
The hospital shelter also contains properly equipped operating rooms, adds Valentyna.
“We realise that people we accommodate are not simply Sumy residents but patients in need of care, and emergencies can arise at any moment. […] There is a large supply of medication, the capability to accommodate bedridden patients, and all the necessary conditions to ensure that people feel not only safe but also as comfortable as possible.”
Valentyna refers to the shelter as a “small medical state” capable of providing a wide range of medical assistance. Deputy Mayor Stanislav Polyakov states the general strategy for medical facilities is making shelters as autonomous as possible. As of mid-2024, this goal has been achieved almost everywhere, with two more shelters currently in the final stages of completion. The local budget remains the key source of funding for such projects; however, some facilities have been renovated with targeted financial assistance from the state budget.
Stanislav mentions that representatives of the Sumy local government visited Borodianka (a Kyiv suburb heavily damaged during the early stages of the full-scale invasion – ed.) to learn from their experience of working with international partners, including Lithuania. They now plan to construct a shelter at an educational institution with the same partner, replicating the approach used in Borodianka.
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The 938th day of a ten year invasion that has been going on for centuries.
One day closer to victory.
🇺🇦 HEROYAM SLAVA! 🇺🇦
by Ukrainer_UA