The Ukrainian military accused Russia on February 1, 2025, of striking a school building that was being used as a shelter for elderly civilians in the town of Sudzha, located in the part of Russia’s Kursk region currently under Ukrainian control.
According to Ukraine, dozens of civilians remain trapped under the rubble, AFP reports.
According to Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi, spokesperson for the Ukrainian command in the region, up to 95 people are trapped under the debris after the attack.
Russia Launching Guided Bombs at Civilian Shelter
Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in August last year in the Kursk region, seizing control of dozens of villages and small towns, including Sudzha—a regional hub that had a population of about 6,000 before the fighting erupted.
According to Ukraine's General Staff, the Russian Air Force struck a boarding school in the town of Sudzha, Kursk region, with a guided aerial bomb.
Ukraine further adds that everything points to the attack being deliberate, according to their statement on Telegram.
"At the time of the strike, dozens of residents were inside the building, preparing for evacuation. All possible efforts are being made to rescue survivors," the statement explained.
According to Dmytrashkivskyi, most of these individuals are elderly and bedridden, and are unable to evacuate themselves.
So far, it has not been possible to verify Ukraine’s allegations, and Russian authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
A Russian official told international media last week that authorities are "constantly working" to ensure the safe evacuation of Russian civilians trapped behind the front lines.
