A Russian drone strike on Konotop, in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, injured 13 civilians and caused widespread damage to the city’s infrastructure overnight on September 11-12.
The attack targeted both civilian areas and critical energy systems, leaving parts of the city without power or water, according to local authorities and the Kyiv Independent.
Local officials reported that two of the injured civilians were hospitalized, with one person in a coma.
The Sumy Oblast Military Administration described the attack as “massive."
Mayor Artem Semenikhin noted that educational facilities and residential buildings were among those damaged, and that the electrical supply situation remains "critical."
According to Semenikhin, engineers are working to restore power to essential services like medical and water facilities. However, it is still unclear when power will be restored to residential areas.
Fires, Blackouts, and Water Supply Problems
The strike also caused fires in the city center, which emergency services struggled to contain due to a lack of available water.
Semenikhin confirmed that backup power sources were being used to restore the water supply, though the system would temporarily go offline the following day. He urged residents to stock up on water to prepare for further disruptions.
“We hope we evacuated everyone safely from their homes,” Semenikhin said.
In addition to hitting the power and water grids, the drone strike destroyed parts of Konotop’s tram tracks, causing a halt in public transportation services. The local administration is working to assess the full extent of the damage, while repairs to the tram system are expected to take some time.
Konotop and the broader Sumy Oblast region, which lies on the northeastern border with Russia, have been frequent targets of Russian attacks. The region is evacuated regularly, with approximately 21,000 residents, including 5,000 children, having left the area due to the continued bombardment.
