Head of Sumy Region: "There was shooting at an exit from Sumy, but the ‘humanitarian corridor’ is operational"

Iryna Balachuk — Tuesday, 8 March 2022, 14:39

Dmytro Zhyvytskyi, the Head of Sumy Military Administration, announced that during the evacuation of civilians there was shooting on the outskirts of the city, although the buses were not being shot at and the ‘humanitarian corridor’ to leave Sumy is operational.

Source: Mr Zhyvytskyi on Telegram

Quote from Mr Zhyvytskyi: "There was shooting at the ring road near the exit from Sumy (in the direction of Romny). The buses were not being shot at! There was no fighting or any exchange of fire. RF military equipment was passing, accompanied by a tank, and there were people sitting on top of the tank who started firing randomly at the fields, the woods, the trees and into the air. [The people] were afraid and moved on towards the road to the city of Lebedyn, towards where the settlement of Nyzy is.

Details: Mr Zhyvytsky said that this case confirms that at the moment it is not 100% safe for those leaving the city, that is why it is up to each one of us to decide whether to leave or to stay in the warzone.

In addition, according to Mr Zhyvytskyi, there was a period around 1.00 pm when people were not being allowed out of the city.

At the same time, Mr Zhyvytskyi added that currently there is a ‘humanitarian corridor’ in operation: the road is open from 9.00 am until 9.00 pm. The situation at the exit is calm. The ‘humanitarian corridor’ is open along the following route: Sumy – Romny – Lokhvytsya – Lubny - Poltava.

He also said that embassies and community organisations have laid on buses for foreign students.

In Sumy, the administration collected all the means of transport it could get hold of, and about 30 vehicles were provided from the Poltava region.

Disabled people, women with children and pregnant women are being evacuated first.

Convoys of private vehicles are also being formed. The regional head called on all drivers who have spare seats in their cars to pick up women with children and the elderly, and take them with them.

 Background: 

• On 8 March the city of Sumy, encircled by the aggressor, was given a ‘humanitarian corridor’. The first stage of evacuation has begun.
• At lunchtime the evacuation convoy from Sumy was already entering the Poltava region.