Mayor Artem Semenikhin said the strikes were timed to maximize destruction and endanger emergency crews Russian forces attacked the northern Ukrainian city of Konotop with Shahed drones and ballistic missiles overnight destroying a major infrastructure facility Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported the first explosion on Telegram at 00:36 on Monday A series of blasts followed as the city came under attack Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official Semenikhin shared audio recordings on Telegram capturing sounds of gunfire and explosions likely caused by air defenses targeting incoming kamikaze drones He later confirmed there were no initial casualties or injuries “The attack involved more than a dozen kamikaze drones and two ballistic missiles,” he wrote “The katsaps [a slang term used in Ukraine to refer to Russians particularly in a negative or mocking context - ed.] deliberately struck at intervals to cause greater destruction and to kill rescuers and medics The strike destroyed an unspecified infrastructure site in Konotop During Palm Sunday religious services on April 13, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. By Sunday night, emergency services confirmed that 34 people, including two children, had been killed and 117 others injured US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine saying the attack on civilian targets “crosses any line of decency.” honoring the victims of the “horrifying Russian missile attack on Sumy.” President Volodymyr Zelensky said that of the 68 injured taken to hospitals the strike damaged five apartment buildings the Russian attack damaged 20 buildings,” Zelensky said “Only completely deranged scum can do something like this,” he added in his evening address Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995 Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice Online media registration number: R40-05383 According to Ukrinform, Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported the attack on Facebook stating that more than a dozen Shahed drones and two ballistic missiles were used in the strike He also stressed that the invaders deliberately staggered their attacks to maximize damage and target rescuers and medics The attack resulted in the destruction of critical infrastructure in Konotop a series of explosions were heard during an air raid in Konotop last night While citing and using any materials on the Internet links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and the website of a foreign media outlet Materials marked as "Advertisement" or with a disclaimer reading "The material has been posted in accordance with Part 3 of Article 9 of the Law of Ukraine "On Advertising" No 1996 and the Law of Ukraine "On the Media" No 2023 and on the basis of an agreement/invoice Online media entity; Media identifier - R40-01421 A series of explosions rocked Konotop in the Sumy region last night amid an enemy drone attack. Air defense forces and systems are actively responding, according to the Telegram channel of Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin Konotop’s mayor reported the explosion at 12:36 a.m he reported the movement of Shahed drones from the southern direction the mayor reported new explosions as the attack by strike UAVs continued Semenikhin shared audio recordings online in which sounds resembling gunfire and explosions can be heard likely caused by the crash of downed kamikaze drones Residents are urged to remain in shelters until the air raid alert is over the Air Force reported that Russian occupiers launched a new wave of Shahed drones toward Ukraine The latest group of enemy UAVs entered Ukrainian airspace from Russia’s Belgorod region This was reported by the city's mayor Artem Semenihin The first explosions occurred around 00:30 the drones attacked the city from the south Local residents counted at least six explosions Strike drones approached the city at low altitudes information about this incident continues to be updated.. drones have become popular for conducting attacks and reconnaissance This incident in Konotop is just one of many examples of the illegal use of drones Such attacks can pose significant threats to the safety of the city and its infrastructure The government should pay adequate attention to this problem and ensure necessary measures to protect against similar attacks in the future Use of site materials only with reference (for online publications - hyperlink) to "112.ua" not lower than the third paragraph This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The reported attack comes just days before Russia's Victory Day parade and three-day "truce." A Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast on May 5 killed one and caused damage to local infrastructure "We appreciate that Germany plays a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine throughout the years of war Ukraine is also grateful for your personal commitment," President Volodymyr Zelensky said MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7 MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8 Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations the regional military administration reported "I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!" U.S Putin's Victory Day truce "doesn't sound like much if you know where we started from," Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5 Far-right Euroskeptic candidate George Simion head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan placed second with 20.99% of the vote and the candidate from the ruling coalition "It requires the continuation of contacts between Moscow and Washington which have been launched and are now ongoing," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said set to operate within the Council of Europe will focus on Russia's political and military leaders up to 20 Russian soldiers were killed and their equipment destroyed The move represents an apparent violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions passed in the wake of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests by Lucy Pakhnyukllustrative purposes: A view of the city during a blackout in Sumy located 30 kilometers from Ukraine's border with Russia (Andre Alves/Anadolu via Getty Images)Blackouts have been reported in Sumy oblast after Russian strikes near Konotop and surrounding settlements on April 18 The attacks come shortly after Moscow announced an end to the partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes in effect between Russia and Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier on April 18 that the one-month period for the energy truce had expired According to Suspilne explosions were heard near the city of Konotop around 8:00 p.m While Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported that were no casualties or injuries, settlements in Sumy Oblast Local residents also reported that the water supply had been shut off Local energy officials confirmed on Telegram that the blackouts were a result of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. In March, the United States brokered a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on attacks against energy facilities after the Kremlin refused to accept a full 30-day ceasefire on all hostilities Since then, Moscow has violated the ceasefire more than 30 times Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on April 16 In his comments on April 18, Peskov did not go into detail as to whether Russia plans to resume attacks on energy facilities or extend the ban. The attacks against Sumy Oblast indicate that Russia will not extend the partial ceasefire and has resumed attacks on critical infrastructure Kyiv has already agreed to enter an immediate ceasefire on all attacks once Moscow accepts the same terms delaying and obstructing attempts to negotiate a comprehensive peace agreement U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 18 that Washington may "take a pass" on peace negotiations if either side makes it too difficult to secure a deal Ivan Urivsky's play to be shown in New York "The Konotop Witch"Contemporary Ukrainian theatre intrigues American audiences with its innovative approach "The Konotop Witch" is a production by director Ivan Urivsky Tickets can be bought here On the subject: How to Get Cheap Tickets to the Hit Musical 'Othello' Starring Denzel Washington This performance was first presented in 2023 in Kyiv during the war on the stage of the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater. Performance based on the classic story by Grigory Kvitka-Osnovyanenko Ivan Urivsky combines Ukrainian traditions with modernity theaterThe production creating a mystical atmosphere that completely immerses the viewer in the performance the main theme was the choice between two forces – Light and Darkness…” Ivan Urivsky said about the performance The play has received mixed reviews: on the one hand it is praised for its deep themes and innovative approach Everyone agrees that "The Konotop Witch" changes the perception of modern Ukrainian theater This production is not just a theatrical performance but a symbol of the cultural revival of Ukraine as well as understanding historical and contemporary challenges Please check your email to confirm your subscription MediaKit Our advertisers [email protected] a landfill project has been developed to serve waste collection across 16 municipalities in the Sumy region The problem of waste disposal is not new for Ukraine Landfills are gradually reaching the end of their service life Some of them do not meet environmental safety standards at all impossible without an established waste management system construction of housing & social infrastructure and attracting investment must take place with a clear understanding of what to do with waste the amount of which will steadily increase The Konotop Municipality in Sumy Oblast was one of the first in Ukraine to approach the waste issue systematically. Together with the U-LEAD with Europe Programme not only did the municipality develop a project for the construction of a modern landfill along with 15 other municipalities in the region prepared harmonised local waste management plans Read more about this experience and the role of the U-LEAD’s Project Preparation Facility in the Kyiv Post piece Project Preparation Facility is one of the initiatives of U-LEAD with Europe Programme, aimed at helping municipalities in preparing reconstruction and recovery projects. This support includes diagnosing the problem, formulating the project idea, discussing the project with the public, financing of project and tender documentation, preparing the full project application form (including for publication on DREAM) In 2022-2024 U-LEAD helped 20 municipalities to prepare 25 projects worth more than 140 million euros U-LEAD is a multi-donor action of the European Union and its member states Germany and Slovenia which supports the efforts of the Ukrainian government in establishment of a multi-level governance that is transparent accountable and responsive to the needs of the population of Ukraine Changes in approaches to waste management at the national level Ukraine generated an average of 10 million tonnes of household waste annually 90% of waste is not recycled but buried in 5.6 thousand landfills and dumps They are gradually depleting their capacity or are already unfit for use Ukraine needs to build 281 new landfills (MinDevelopment the new Waste Management Law came into force ensuring harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with the EU regulations It provides for the introduction of multi-level planning at national regional and local levels as well as for the development of modern infrastructure each oblast is divided into several clusters in which municipalities cooperate to ensure waste management Each cluster must be serviced by one landfill municipalities are obliged to develop local waste management plans integrate them within a cluster and the region Waste management challenges in the Konotop municipality In the Konotop-Romny cluster (Sumy Oblast) that unites 16 municipalities 99% of waste is buried in 3 landfills and 57 dump sites with the total area of disposal sites exceeding 45.5 hectares The landfill within the Konotop municipality has exhausted its capacity The 16 municipalities are home to 300,000 people If 80,000 tonnes of waste were generated in 2023 then in 2024 the amount reached 100,000 tonnes waste is hardly sorted (the coverage level is 7.6%) Hostilities have created additional problems – due to the damage the amount of construction waste has increased the amount of direct damage caused to destroyed buildings amounted to $10.8 million the municipality began to look for solutions Konotop municipality and U-LEAD: start of cooperation In 2022, municipal officials joined the U-LEAD Steps for Specialists: Waste Management Training Programme, which lasted throughout 2022–2023. You can check out online course, based on the training, here: https://ulearn.org.ua/en/ municipal team formulated a project idea of the construction of a landfill which they submitted for U-LEAD’s consideration once the Programme launched its new initiative aimed at reconstruction and recovery – the Project Preparation Facility in 2023 The municipality created a working group of 13 people under the leadership of the deputy mayor it became clear that simply planning the construction of a landfill would not be enough Its future operation will depend on coordinated planning with neighboring municipalities Konotop and U-LEAD came up with an ambitious idea to expand cooperation and engage the remaining 15 municipalities of the cluster by preparing 16 aligned waste management plans These plans needed to be synchronised with each other aligned with the operations of the future landfill As a result, from April to October 2024, all 16 municipalities, together with the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, supported by U-LEAD, developed local waste management plans. You can learn more about how to develop local waste management plan here.  “Although the idea of building the landfill originated in the Konotop municipality It assumed coordination of interaction with the other 15 municipalities and regional authorities,” said Oleh Chernysh deputy mayor of Konotop confirms “Cooperation with other municipalities is a long and complex process that requires both political will and joint efforts The main challenge is different levels of municipal readiness to deal with complex problems we addressed it with continuous communication Konotop launched the process of signing memorandums for joint implementation of the waste management project with other municipalities back in 2021 Yuriy Pavlov The work on the landfill project involved close cooperation between the Konotop municipality team It quickly became clear that the land plot for the landfill had to be expanded The design decisions were also influenced by the fact that the volume of waste increased from 80,000 tonnes in 2023 to 100,000 tonnes in 2024 Konotop officials also presented the project concept to the public “Successful implementation of environmental initiatives is only possible with active support and understanding from citizens A waste management project directly concerns every resident This allowed us to get an idea of public sentiment The discussions showed that many people lack information about separate collection and recycling so we planned information and education campaign for the future,” says Liudmyla Gapeyeva Lyudmyla Gapeyeva residents suggested including solar panels protection of agricultural land through greening of the area (which prevents landfill wind erosion) and a thermal plant that would operate on self-produced wood chips Key stages in the development of the landfill project and elaboration of waste management plans for the Konotop-Romny cluster Project design envisages that the landfill will operate under an algorithm according to which waste will be directed to the appropriate processing infrastructure depending on its type Mixed household waste will go to the sorting line and organic waste will be sent for composting Separately collected food waste and vegetation will be sent directly to the composting site and the residues from compost production will be taken to the landfill The compost itself will be sold to residents and businesses and used for municipal needs and solar panels will provide energy independence for the facility by the fifth year of operation Construction plan and visualisation of the new landfill’s exterior Source: dream.gov.ua The construction budget for the landfill amounts to EUR 29.1 million. Therefore, Konotop is looking for investments. More details about the project can be found on the DREAM here How the project is going to support the post-war recovery Preparation of such a large-scale project demonstrates a crucial role of municipalities in recovery and development but also ensured cooperation with citizens Project’s implementation will become a catalyst for the post-war recovery of the entire region The recovery period involves increased economic activity and population growth which will lead to increased waste volumes Konotop aims to ensure both comfort for citizens and increased attractiveness for investors “Potential investors always pay attention to whether a city has modern infrastructure and cares about the environment They ask: What kind of wastewater treatment facilities do you have Does the town have a modern landfill?’This project will be the answer to a key question from donors: whether we can ensure civilised waste management,” explains Artem Semenikhin Mayor of Konotop Artem Semenikhin this project is an important demonstration of how European integration can be advanced at the local level the implementation of new waste management approaches aligns with the overall strategy of Konotop The municipality already can boast of its first success: it received new garbage trucks and additional equipment from international partners the construction of the landfill will improve the economic situation in the municipality and the projected income is expected to reach UAH 100 million per year “Investments in waste management are not only a necessity but also a strategic decision for future recovery infrastructure will need to be restored quickly we will be ready to move forward quickly and confidently,”  summarises Yuriy Pavlov by Abbey FenbertKonotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin in a video on April 13 following Russia's deadly Palm Sunday missile attack on the neighboring city of Sumy (Screenshot / Artem Semenikhin / Facebook)Artem Semenikhin accused regional Governor Volodymyr Artiukh of planning an awards ceremony for the 117th Brigade in Sumy on April 13 — the same day Russia launched a devastating ballistic missile attack on the city center The event posed undue risk to civilians and military personnel Russia attacked the northeastern city of Sumy with ballistic missiles on the morning of Palm Sunday killing at least 34 people and injuring at least 117 others Artiukh "helped (Russia) justify their terrorist attack, a genocidal attack on us, Ukrainians," Seminikhin said in a video posted to Facebook He organized the presentation of certificates and medals to our guys The large gathering of soldiers created a pretense for Russia to attack a "military gathering," Semenikhin said while needlessly exposing nearby civilians Semenikhin clarified that the soldiers were not injured and only civilians were harmed by the Russian strike Russia's primary target was civilians The second target was Ukraine's military "I was happy to learn that a criminal case has been opened not only for the terrorist genocidal attack by the butchers against Ukrainians but also that a case has been opened to find out who thought of holding events with a gathering of military personnel in the city center 30 kilometers from the butchers," he said Semenikhin also claimed that the head of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) was maintaining tight control over news of the planned ceremony The Ukrainian news outlet Ukrainiska Pravda reported that its sources confirmed the awards ceremony honoring the 117th Brigade was scheduled to take place in Sumy the morning of April 13 One source said two soldiers they knew personally had arrived for the ceremony and were waiting for it to begin when the missiles struck The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify these claims at the time of publication Abbey Fenbert is a senior news editor at the Kyiv Independent and playwright with an MFA from Boston University Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011 Ukraine — Witches are having a moment in Ukraine these beings are thought to possess supernatural powers that can be used for good and bad witches have been blamed for all kinds of things happening to Ukrainians: droughts diseases — even falling in love and starting wars Now they have taken center stage in a dark musical comedy titled The Witch of Konotop with performances selling out all summer at the historic Ivan Franko Theater in the capital Kyiv Based on the 1833 satirical fiction by Ukrainian writer Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko the story pokes fun at Ukrainian literature’s tendency to focus on sadness and tragedy It takes place in the 1600s and follows the main character in his unsuccessful journey to do away with witches whom he blames for his misfortunes the audience is treated to beautifully detailed Ukrainian folk costumes and stunning vocals set to traditional Ukrainian music the main characters receive orders to join a campaign to fend off an overreaching czarist Russia Life under a sinister Russian threat might be the most obvious theme from this play a quick survey of the cast and audience at a recent performance reveals the production’s true flexibility don’t mess with women,” says actress Kateryna Artemenko who plays one of the townswomen mistaken for a witch She spoke to NPR backstage before the show “The main message is about people trying to fool their destiny who plays the ill-fated Cossack commander Zabryokha views this play as a lesson in avoiding responsibility The two lead characters avoid going to military drills so they don’t have to go to war and many people see a parallel with Ukrainian men dodging conscription today Zadniprovskyi also attributes the play’s popularity to the clips that have gone viral on social media Ukrainians from all walks of life weigh in Audience member Markian Halabala of Kyiv says seeing buzz about the play online is what first piqued his interest He says it was difficult to get tickets because the play sells out so quickly he felt the message was that you shouldn’t interfere in God’s will — like Zabryokha does in the play when he asks a witch to cast a spell on a woman to make her fall in love with him Halabala likens it to Russian President Vladimir Putin trying to interfere in Ukraine’s path forward as an independent nation theatergoer Olha Vasylevshka of Kharkiv says she thinks the play is about love it doesn’t need any outside assistance,” she says Critics say audiences’ many interpretations of The Witch of Konotop are just one reason it’s been so popular Ivan Franko Theater press liaison Olena Kyrychenko-Povolocka told NPR the production has filled their nearly 800-seat house for every performance this summer and she expects to continue that success The play has dates on its website through mid-September Another reason for the play’s popularity may be its ties to not only Ukrainian folklore but also to Ukraine’s real-life town of Konotop known for witches Near the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, a video surfaced online of a woman shouting at a Russian soldier sitting atop a tank “Do you even know where you are?” the woman shouts in a raspy voice “You’re in Konotop — every second woman here is a witch.” She goes on to warn the soldier he will never get an erection again but also because the video was from Konotop and Ukrainians immediately got the reference There’s been an overall push to celebrate Ukrainian culture and literature since Russia’s invasion Putin has repeatedly said victory means nothing short of Ukraine not just losing its sovereignty — but also its identity Ukrainians’ renewed interest in their own culture has driven them back to theaters Almost all functioning theaters in the country have returned to selling tickets to full houses according to Olha Baibak with the National Union of Theater Workers of Ukraine “There is a growing interest in the theater throughout the country,” Baibak wrote in an email to NPR She says they also come to get away from reality says it’s sometimes difficult to block out the challenges and horrors of war happening outside the theater But performing is an honor that reminds him what he believes Ukrainians are fighting for the sparks that make us alive — it’s hard to put into one sentence,” he says Polina Lytvynova contributed to this report from Kyiv Become an NPR sponsor Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker 2024 3:31 p.m.00:00 / A scene from a Ukrainian production of The Witch of Konotop is the love interest of the main character but does not love him back spend much of the play blaming others for their misfortunes and conspiring Zadniprovskyi also attributes the play's popularity to the clips that have gone viral on social media Critics say audiences' many interpretations of The Witch of Konotop are just one reason it's been so popular Near the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, a video surfaced online of a woman shouting at a Russian soldier sitting atop a tank Witches have long been a staple of Ukrainian folklore they were often scapegoats for when bad things happened — such as droughts the witches — seen here played by Anna Rudenko Anastasiia Rula and Kateryna Artemenko — serve as a chorus and a plot device Tags: Theater, Europe, Europe, Performing Arts, Culture, World, News, Apple News Stand with OPB and protect independent journalism for everyone Listen to the OPB News live stream (opens new window)Streaming Now with performances selling out all summer in Kyiv The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep. The current conflict is more than one country taking over another; it is — in the words of one U.S. official — a shift in "the world order." Ukraine's bookstores have expanded despite the war, fueled by interest in works by Ukrainian writers, some who have been killed by Russian forces. But a Russian missile struck a top printing plant. From graffiti artists painting camo on cars to dancers raising money for the army, this is a look at how young Ukrainians use their creative talents to support the country against Russia's invasion. Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston The acclaimed production of "The Witch of Konotop," directed by Ivan Uryvskyi is embarking on an exciting international tour bringing one of Ukraine’s most innovative and thought-provoking theatrical performances to audiences across Europe Following its highly praised debut in Kyiv in 2023 this contemporary reinterpretation of a classic Ukrainian tale will be showcased in Paris This stunning production is based on the beloved classic story by Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko "The Witch of Konotop," but with a bold and modern twist The play merges the mystical and the folkloric with urgent contemporary social and political themes By revisiting Ukrainian traditions and weaving them into today’s discourse Uryvskyi has created a deeply resonant piece that speaks to both historical and current issues The play challenges traditional stereotypes about witches highlighting themes of female strength and independence as well as historical persecution and the oppression of women especially in the context of societal and social norms The director of the production chose an innovative approach blending authentic Ukrainian traditions with modern theatrical techniques and styles where every decorative element holds symbolic meaning allows the stage to be completely filled with actors' performances Russian forces launched a massive air attack on Konotop and other Ukrainian cities overnight on 12 September 2024 causing damage to civilian infrastructure and injuring at least 14 people The head of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, Ihor Kalchenko, reported that the number of injured in Konotop had risen to 14 this morning. The regional administration said that Russian forces used Shahed drones to target residential buildings Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin described the situation with electricity supply in the city as critical “When electricity will appear in the homes of residents He added that a large number of educational institutions were damaged and windows were shattered in many medical buildings medical equipment was not seriously affected The attack also destroyed a section of the tram track in the city center limiting tram movement to “only route number three,” according to Semenikhin Water supply in the city will be provided on an hourly basis with a detailed schedule to be announced later This morning, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that they had detected and tracked 69 Russian air attack means as of 9:00 The Russian forces struck Chernihiv Oblast with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Kursk Oblast and one Kh-59/69 guided air missile from Bryansk Oblast They also launched two Kh-22/32 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 strategic bomber aircraft over the Black Sea towards Zmiinyi (Snake) Island and 64 Shahed-type one-way attack UAVs from launch areas in Russia’s Kursk The Air Force stated that air defense systems were active in Kyiv Three Russian drones reportedly flew back to Russia and four were lost over Ukrainian territory without reported casualties or damage As of the time of the Air Force’s report at 9:15 four strike UAVs remained in Ukrainian airspace Airspace monitoring Telegram channels reported that at least one Shahed drone was still airborne in Ukrainian airspace at the time of publication You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter Please leave your suggestions or corrections here We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content The digital development of this website has been supported by the Strategic Media Support Program implemented by Lviv Media Forum and National Endowment for Democracy  This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that its military forces struck the Ukrainian city of Sumy with two Iskander-M missiles on 13 April according to several Russian media outlets Russian defence officials reported the target was a meeting location of the command staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Seversk operational-tactical group The ministry claimed that the strike killed more than 60 Ukrainian military personnel “The Kyiv regime continues to use the Ukrainian population as human shields placing military facilities and conducting events with military personnel in the center of a densely populated city,” the Russian military claimed Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier declined to comment on the Russian strike on Sumy during a press briefing Ukrainian officials and local media reported that Russia attacked Sumy on 13 April with two ballistic missiles Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko said that 14 police officers were killed and injured as well as officers of other services who were responding to the aftermath of the attack The attack also damaged 51 buildings, 34 cars, one bus and a university. Vasyl Karpusha, rector of Sumy State University, told Suspilne that the damage caused to the university in Sumy is in the hundreds of millions of hryvnias The mayor of Konotop, another major city in the Sumy Oblast, said that at the time of the strike military personnel from the 117th Territorial Defense Brigade were receiving awards in Sumy Mayor Artem Semenihin criticized the head of the regional military administration The mayor said that the military personnel were not harmed as they managed to reach shelter in time The Berdychiv district military administration reported that Colonel Yuriy Yula commander of the 27th Reactive Artillery Brigade named after Petro Kalnyshevsky and former deputy commander of the 26th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces The administration later deleted this post from their social media The Sumy Regional Prosecutor's Office posted this on Facebook Russians targeted the city's critical and civilian infrastructure with Shahed-type kamikaze drones and a bank were damaged," the prosecutor's office informed Law enforcement officers are conducting a pre-trial investigation into the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) an apartment building in the center of the city In the early hours of 17 September, Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine, targeting multiple regions with Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The Ukrainian Air Force reported that a total of 51 attack drones were detected and tracked from the directions of Kursk The assault injured at least one civilian in Konotop and damaged the power grid in Sumy City and electronic warfare units of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine successfully intercepted and destroyed 34 attack drones 12 drones were “locationally lost” (crashed) in several regions of Ukraine due to active countermeasures by the Defense Forces’ electronic warfare systems Two more enemy attack drones returned to Russia which suggests that only two Shaheds reached their targets The Air Force reported that air defense systems were active in Mykolaiv Sumy Oblast bore the brunt of the assault, with the regional capital Sumy experiencing a “massive air strike” by Shahed drones, according to the authorities. The Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that around 10 explosions were heard in the city starting from 23:20 causing water to be supplied at reduced pressure Trolleybuses were unable to operate due to the power outage There were no injuries resulting from the night attack The power outage affected consumers in Sumy The Sumy Regional Military Administration reported that air defense forces shot down 16 Shahed drones over the region’s territory Hours before the attack on Sumy, Russian forces struck the city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast with a Shahed drone late on 16 September. Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported one person injured as a result of this attack A play about witches is a sensation in Ukraine's capital It's selling out every performance at the historic Ivan Franko Theater BYLINE: In the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine a video surfaced online - a woman shouting at a Russian soldier sitting atop a tank UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Speaking Russian) WESTERMAN: "Do you even know where you are You're in Konotop," shouted the woman off-screen She goes on to say the soldier will be cursed with impotence WESTERMAN: The video went viral in Ukraine WESTERMAN: "Witches are a part of Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian tradition," says Khrystyna Fedorak so you can rely on something having to do with witches going viral This is one of the reasons the play Fedorak is currently starring in at the Ivan Franko Theater in the capital Fedorak plays the witch in the dark musical comedy "The Witch Of Konotop." WESTERMAN: Based on the 1833 satirical fiction by Ukrainian writer Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko this story leans hard on the stereotype that Ukrainian literature is full of sadness and tragedy tries to confuse Olena's love interest by accusing him of crimes he didn't commit beating up other people and drinking - all reasons in a twist of events that sounds a lot like today Zabryokha receives an order to join a military campaign to help the Cossacks fend off an overreaching Tsarist Russia "to take our Cossacks in Konotop to join the main army saying he needs to stay in Konotop to root out the witch problem - the root WESTERMAN: All with a larger threat looming over everything - Russia But while that might be the most obvious takeaway from "The Witch Of Konotop," the cast has some of their own ideas KATERYNA ARTEMENKO: Don't kill women (laughter) actress Kateryna Artemenko sits in a tiny dressing room deep in the heart of the Ivan Franko Theater She's getting ready with the other actresses having their hair braided and curled and putting on their costumes Artemenko plays one of the townswomen mistaken for a witch I just - the main message is about people who - they're trying to fool their destiny WESTERMAN: "The two leading characters are avoiders," he says "They avoid going to drills so they don't have to go to war." Zadniprovskyi says many people see a parallel with Ukrainian men dodging conscription today WESTERMAN: As the play ends and the theater's mustard-yellow felt curtain drops to a thunderous applause producer Polina Lytvynova and I ask a few audience members what parallels they drew the northeastern Ukrainian city currently fending off an intense Russian offensive OLHA VASYLEVSKA: (Through interpreter) If the love is true it doesn't need any outside assistance (laughter) says the message he took away is that you shouldn't interfere in God's will MARKIAN HALABALA: (Through interpreter) This is like Putin He interfered in natural Ukraine's way of independence natural way of Ukrainian history with this war WESTERMAN: Critics say the many takeaways "The Witch Of Konotop" offers its audiences is one reason it's been so popular - the Ivan Franko Theater says the production has been sold out all summer But another reason is the overall push to celebrate Ukrainian culture and literature - Putin has repeatedly said victory means nothing short of Ukraine losing not just their sovereignty WESTERMAN: Mykhailo Kukuyuk plays Pistryak WESTERMAN: "It's very hard to put into one sentence," he says in Ukrainian And while it's sometimes difficult to block out the events happening outside of this theater Kukuyuk says it's an honor to perform for his country NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record  (Updated:  September 12, 2024 6:37 am) • 2 min readby Abbey FenbertTram tracks damaged by a Russian attack against Konotop in Sumy Oblast on Sept (Screenshot / Artem Seminikhin / Facebook)Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated Russia attacked the city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast overnight on Sept and disrupting the electricity and water supply Fourteen people were injured, local authorities reported The consequences of the attack are still being investigated Russia launched a "massive" drone attack "on energy and civilian infrastructure facilities" in Konotop Two of the injured civilians were hospitalized after the attack, according to Semenikhin Seminikhin reported that the attack "heavily damaged" the city's energy infrastructure and that the electrical supply situation remains "critical." Engineers are at work restoring power to medical and water facilities but it is uncertain when residential power will be restored He said that educational facilities and residential buildings were hit "I hope that we managed to evacuate all the residents from their homes," Seminikhin said "Now we are launching backup power sources to supply the network with water because there is not enough water to extinguish the fires." Seminikhin later said that the city had restored water facilities but that the water supply would be temporarily suspended the following day He urged residents to stock up on water in anticipation of supply disruptions Seminikhin also warned residents that transportation by tram would be limited as the attack destroyed a section of the city's tram tracks Russia has previously targeted energy infrastructure in Konotop with missile strikes Sumy Oblast lies on Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia and is subject to daily attacks Approximately 21,000 residents have been evacuated from the region Volodymyr Artiukh, Chief of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, announced this on the national television "Since the start of the large-scale war the town of Konotop has not experienced such shelling It was the largest air strike," Artiukh noted He also said that the enemy wanted to demoralize and create panic in the town they planned to strike the town's energy facilities in order to put the town into blackout But then they began to destroy residential buildings of civilians to deprive them of water But the town was prepared for such a situation "The town had a certain material reserve energy companies have already started supplying electricity to the consumers" the regional chief emphasized backup power sources were put into operation the consequences of the strike were not so critical for the town dwellers as the enemy hoped Volodymyr Artiukh also added that representatives of some international organizations arrived to help the town authorities to provide assistance to the residents of Konotop the Russians carried out a massive airstrike on energy and civil infrastructure facilities of the Konotop community The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy reported this on Facebook The Ministry recalled that the The Witch of Konotop had won the Taras Shevchenko National Prize in the category "Theatrical Art" the piece is "the voice of modern Ukraine which is fighting darkness for its very existence." "This is a modern story about the strength of the Ukrainian spirit and its indomitability which is full of the light of truth and sounds loudly today through the ages in a single desire – to live originally authored by an outstanding Ukrainian writer highlighting the key features of the national character - a combination of common sense This outstanding mix helps the main character fight for the truth and achieve victory of good over evil making the play the most popular piece on the modern Ukrainian scene the inaugural Summit on Peace in Ukraine was held in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock attended by representatives from 92 countries and eight international organizations All participants of the summit supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine Eighty countries and four organizations have signed a joint communique which other states are welcome to join in the future Photo: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy Recevez chaque matin dans votre boîte de réception toutes les plus fraîches nouvelles du mouvement sportif international | | | This page has been translated automatically by Gtranslate you might find translations errors at time The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced that three of its weightlifters had been sanctioned for anti-doping rule violations and Alina Marushchak (81 kg – photo above) were pinned by the ITA and saw their results erased from the charts The first two were sentenced to a four-year suspension reduced by six months for having cooperated in the proceedings The third is banned from competition for two years Problem: the regulations of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) provide that a country having had three or more athletes sanctioned for doping during a period of 12 months is excluded from international competitions Ukraine therefore finds itself in the position of being banned from the Paris 2024 Games in weightlifting The final decision will be made by the IWF following a review and recommendation by its independent Sanctions Commission Tags: Back to top© 2013-2025 Francs Jeux the head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration said this in a commentary to Ukrinform on the sidelines of the National Unified Platform “Plich-o-plich: cohesive communities” “In the Konotop and Shostka districts we have 38 settlements from which people have completely moved out and these settlements have been handed over to the Armed Forces,” he said Artiukh also noted that the Sumy and Shostka districts are currently suffering the most from Russian attacks He recalled that forced evacuation of the population was announced there “We are nearing the completion of these evacuation measures today there are still many settlements where people remain law enforcement agencies are involved and their role is to persuade the remaining residents to leave We offer them alternative accommodation options in other cities,” he said The regional governor noted that up to 20,000 more people need to be evacuated along the entire border of the region Artiukh also highlighted the most affected communities including the Velyka Pysarivka community in the Okhtyrka district the Bilopillia community in the Sumy district and the Seredyna-Buda community in the Shostka district He also said that every day the Russians destroy the Khotin community in the Sumy district with guided aerial bombs The regional governor noted that it is difficult to determine the exact number of destroyed villages the Air Defense Forces have shot down about 1,000 Russian Shahed drones in the Sumy region Residents of Konotop in the Sumy region are advised to charge their devices and stock up on drinking and technical water due to the threat of missile strikes, according to the mayor of Konotop, Artem Semenikhin. "I kindly ask everyone to stock up on water and charge your devices Russians attacked Ukraine with kamikaze drones the aggressor launched a massive wave of strike drones across the country Due to drone strikes in Mykolaiv, private houses and a gas network were damaged and caught fire. Later, Russia attacked central regions and the city of Starokostiantyniv in the Khmelnytskyi region with Kalibr cruise missiles. Around 05:00 AM, Russian forces struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Fires were reported in several districts. “The Konotop Witch” on the London stage became a real event, leaving a deep mark in the hearts of the British audience. The performance, brought by the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, gathered a full house on the stage of the legendary “Hackney Empire”. Thanks to the skill of director Ivan Uryvsky, who managed to recreate the mystical atmosphere of “The Konotop Witch,” the audience was immersed in the world of Ukrainian magic. The three screenings, which took place on April 7 and 8, were accompanied by a flurry of emotions and ovations. “On stage — mysticism, and in the audience — the power of unity,” — this is how the Frankivsk band described their feelings from the London performances. In addition to the cultural program, the theater held a charity auction, the proceeds of which will go to support the Third Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Among the lots that aroused considerable interest were the flag of Ukraine and the book “The Konotop Witch” with touching signatures of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, Valery Zaluzhny. This is not just a success of the theater, it is a step towards the rapprochement of cultures and nations. The London audience, captivated by the performance, became part of a great event that supports not only artistic heritage, but also current social issues. The theater became a bridge that united art and charity, contributing to the strengthening of international relations of Ukraine. Learn about the most important news and events in Kyiv. Щоб переглянути сайт, увімкніть JavaScript у своєму браузері 10:47 AM EESTIndividuals have the opportunity to seek information at the following address: 13 Chervona Kalynya Avenue (on the premises of the city’s Administrative Services Center) and by phone: +38 (098) 091 7383 The Center's operating hours are from 8:00 to 15:00 on Monday Friday and from 8:00 to 17:00 on Tuesday and Thursday “I encourage all residents of the city visiting the Recruitment Center to have a clear conscience after the victory you can choose the specialty that suits you best and then serve in your preferred location This is the fourth Center in the Sumy region It was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence there are 36 Recruitment Centers of the Ukrainian Army in Ukraine “Over 16,000 individuals have already contacted the Ukrainian Army's Recruitment Centers network the Defence Forces see a continuous increase in volunteer enlistment with thousands of new recruits joining their ranks I encourage everyone to get in touch with our specially educated non-military experts and select a military unit and a role in the Armed Forces,” stated Oleksii Bezhevets recruitment officer for the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence Individuals between 18 and 60 are eligible for recruitment and individuals aged 18-25 can opt for a 1-year contract For more information on the addresses and working hours of Recruitment Centers of the Ukrainian Army, please visit https://recruiting.mod.gov.ua/ BETAThe functionality works in the mode of experimental operation Russia massively shelled the town of Konotop in the Sumy region and the situation with electricity is critical Read all about the consequences of the Russian shelling of Konotop in the RBC-Ukraine report the Ukrainian Air Force has been reporting the movement of Russian attack drones the movement of Shaheds towards the Sumy region Russia fired 64 kamikaze drones and five missiles of various types (two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and two Kh-22/32 cruise missiles) at Ukraine that night Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 44 Russian drones Another 3 drones flew to Russia and 4 were lost locally on the territory of Ukraine The authorities of the Sumy region reported a massive Russian attack on Konotop after 4 a.m. According to the mayor of the city and the district administration, Russia carried out a massive air strike with Shaheds The Russians hit energy and civilian infrastructure with drones 14 people have been reported injured in Konotop Most of the injured sustained shrapnel wounds the man was on his way to rescue people after the Russian attack and came under fire and surgeons are treating victims as usual the city has a difficult situation with electricity Mayor Artem Semenikhin said that water would be supplied to Konotop on an hourly basis There are also reports of communication problems due to the blackout Russians destroyed a section of the tramway in the city center the mayor said that the situation with electricity in Konotop was critical The energy infrastructure has been heavily damaged it is impossible to predict when the power supply will be restored Semenikhin said there was a lack of funds to restore water supply to homes "We have a city council session today. I do not know where we will find the money. We need to urgently allocate funds for the inspection of the technical condition of the buildings.. to provide people with sufficient water," the mayor of Konotop told Kyiv24 TV channel The Sumy Region Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case over the massive attack on Konotop (violation of the laws and customs of war - part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) Police and rescuers also showed the consequences of the Russian shelling of Konotop According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine there is one child among the victims in Konotop Russia also tried to attack Kyiv last night The Russians sent drones to the capital in several waves A fire also broke out in the Khmelnytskyi region as a result of a Russian night attack Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroyed 10 Shaheds in the region The shelling caused a fire in a warehouse where furniture products were stored Russian forces launched a massive attack on Konotop and a banking institution were damaged,” the statement said the enemy attacked critical and civilian infrastructure in Konotop using methods of warfare prohibited by international law Police investigators have launched a criminal case under Article 438 "Violation of the Laws and Customs of War," of the Criminal Code of Ukraine On the night of September 12, the Russian army carried out a large-scale attack on Konotop in the Sumy region The shelling also caused a critical power situation in Konotop the city was left entirely without power due to the attack Water will be supplied on a scheduled basis Kamila Konotop from Ukraine won her third senior continental title in a dramatic women’s 59kg contest at the European Championships in Sofia but featured a cast of seven lifters aiming to make ground in the Olympic rankingsThis was a crucial day for those hoping to go to Paris 2024 While Konotop is assured of finishing near the top of the rankings there is a desperately close contest further down Kamila Konotop (UKR) with her teamAthletes who started the day in 10th 13th and 15th place all failed to make any gains The three placed 10th to 12th all bombed out – Taylor Wilkins from the United States Nina Sterckx from Belgium and Lucrezia Magistris from Italy It was a fourth bombout in six qualifying appearances by Magistris.Silver medallist Dora Tchakounte from France missed two clean and jerks so she remained 13th the independent neutral athlete from Belarus was 12kg down on her best total in qualifying after making only two good lifts.Two lifters did have a good day Saara Retulainen from Finland moved up from 27th place to 16th with a 12kg improvement and last year’s 55kg champion Andreea Cotruta from Romania went from 28th to 19th in her first competition at this weight.Retulainen a 30-year-old marketing and social media entrepreneur who has to balance training with her career was due a change of luck at the European Championships She was delighted with her 95-119-214 for silver in clean and jerk and bronze on total Saara Retulainen (FIN)At the 2022 Championships Retulainen suffered a bad ankle injury in her first snatch Last year she suffered another injury a week before the competition in Yerevan.“I’ve had some tough luck,” she said “This time I’ve been in great shape in training so I came here hoping to improve my best qualifying total and fight for medals That last clean and jerk made it a really good day.”Cotruta “At the start of the process it was difficult but now it’s fine,” she said after making 94-118-214 up 11kg on her best qualifying total made at 55kg She will probably need another 10kg in the final qualifier in Thailand Andreea Cotruta (ROU)Konotop declined her final attempt after making 105-125-230 Tchakounte took snatch bronze and silver on total with 98-117-215 Sterckx was second in snatch on 101kg before failing in clean and jerk.Jess Gordon Brown from Britain made 90-110-200 to top the B Group the first time she has totalled 200kg in international competition Her team-mate Zoe Smith retired after failing with her fist snatch in the A session Wilkins snatched a career-best 99kg before becoming the fifth athlete to bomb out Team USA is competing in Bulgaria rather than at the Pan American Championships in Venezuela The Americans cannot win medals but have been cleared by the IWF to lift as guests and their totals will count in the Olympic rankings.For the second time in successive days an Armenian junior world champion won gold today it was Gor Sahakyan in the men’s 67kg.Sahakyan who won at this weight last year with a total of 320kg could not match it this time after missing two snatches He took the lead on total with his first clean and jerk missed the next one and declined his final attempt on 140-171-311.Turkey had silver and bronze on total won snatch gold on the way to 142-168-310 while Ferdi Hardal made 136-169-304.Sergio Massidda from Italy failed with his last two attempts and dropped from second in snatch to fourth overall on 141-162-303 Congress Executive Board Committees Commissions Member Federations Technical Officials Secretariat Photo Gallery Video Gallery Download center Privacy Policy Cookies Policy Copyright 2020 - International Weightlifting Federation The Russian army launched airstrikes this night on energy facilities of critical infrastructure in the Sumy region The energy sector in the Konotop district was affected according to the Sumy Regional Military Administration on Telegram It is noted that the enemy used Iranian-made kamikaze drones of the Shahed type for these attacks the enemy launched an airstrike on the energy facilities of critical infrastructure in the Konotop district using Shahed-type UAVs," the Regional Military Administration stated The administration clarified that emergency services are currently addressing the consequences of the shelling "All necessary services are working on-site Recovery operations are being conducted," the Regional Military Administration reported Regarding the repulsion of air attacks last night the Ground Forces and Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully shot down six Russian Shahed drones our air defense units have downed 406 Russian drones," reported the Sumy Regional Military Administration Russian forces have been regularly targeting energy facilities in the Sumy region the Russian army attacked energy facilities in the Romny district of Sumy region the city of Sumy experienced power outages following a Russian Shahed drone attack It was also reported that on October 21, the enemy conducted airstrikes on critical infrastructure in the Romny district resulting in several localities losing electricity Before that, on October 20, the Russian army struck an energy facility in the Sumy region leaving over 100 settlements in the Romny district without power On October 19, Russian forces targeted another energy facility in the region prompting emergency power outages across the Sumy region Russian forces also attacked Shostka in the Sumy region with kamikaze drones and Shaheds damaging energy and infrastructure facilities Kamila Konotop outperformed the Colombian world champion Yenny Alvarez and moved to the top of the women’s 59kg rankings for Paris 2024 with a record-breaking victory at the European Weightlifting Championships in Yerevan The host nation had its first win in the evening session when 19-year-old Gor Sahakyan was cheered on by a large crowd to finish clear in the men’s 67kg the world and European 55kg junior champion from Belgium Konotop’s previous best total was 223kg when she finished sixth behind Alvarez at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Bogotá last December Here she made 106-129-235 for a 12kg improvement that was 1kg more than Alvarez’s winning total in Bogotá “I prepared very well and I know the numbers make me top of the rankings – I’m very happy but I’m not surprised,” said Konotop “I started preparing for this as soon as I got back from the World Championships.” She is hoping her next competition will be the IWF Grand Prix in Cuba in June but there are complications because Ukraine will withdraw if “neutral” athletes from Russia take part there The contest was over by halfway in Yerevan In the snatch there were 18 red lights for attempts between 90kg and 98kg and every one of the other 10 lifters had at least one failure Unfortunately for Lucrezia Magistris three of the red lights were hers and so for the second time in two Olympic qualifiers the Italian failed to make a total As soon as Magistris had walked off the platform after failing at 98kg Konotop came out and easily made her first attempt at 100kg She followed up with a European record snatch of 104kg then bettered it on 106kg to build a lead of 13kg Sterckx did well enough in the clean and jerk to force Konotop out before everybody else had finished but missed her final attempt at 120kg and ended on 93-116-209 The 20-year-old Belgian lifted at 49kg in Colombia and now features in the rankings at both weights Konotop claimed all three senior continental records Her 29-year-old team-mate Nadiia Shpilka made only two good lifts but took third place on 93-114-207 Sahakyan was also a wide-margin winner who made a big improvement on his previous best total He failed with a world junior record snatch attempt at 147kg but his 145-175-320 was 18kg up on his previous best total and far too good for the rest of the field Acoran Hernandez took second place on 140-165-305 The 32-year-old Spaniard was sandwiched by two teenagers Two others made the podium in clean and jerk: Ferdi Hardal of Turkey was second and Bulgaria’s Valentin Genchev third By Brian Oliver, Inside the Games attacked the city of Konotop in the Sumy region the industrial infrastructure was affected "There was a missile strike in Konotop - another act of terrorism from the Russian Federation The industrial infrastructure of our city was hit," he said Preliminary information indicates that no one was injured the consequences of the Russian attack are still being clarified "Traffic in the direction of the residential area Zhytlomasyv is temporarily restricted Today the General Staff reported that Russia has intensified shelling of border towns in the Chernihiv and Sumy regions As of this morning, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have eliminated another 1290 Russian soldiers Enemy losses in manpower amount to 512,420 soldiers As a result of a Russian drone attack on the city of Konotop during the night of 11-12 September The attack also damaged seven multi-storey buildings Volunteers from the Ukrainian Red Cross joined the response efforts providing psychological first aid to the victims the Konotop local branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross set up a tent at the emergency site and organised the distribution of tarpaulins and plastic sheeting to those whose homes were damaged volunteers will continue working at the site to provide assistance and gather information on the needs of the affected population National CommitteeUkrainian Red Cross Society The Ukrainian delegation is composed of women only as men are currently not allowed to travel out of Ukraine Jönköping University welcomes ten politicians and public servants from the north-eastern Ukrainian municipality of Konotop They will spend five intensive days visiting municipal and third-sector organisations to learn about the democratisation and modernisation of the public sector Professor in Business Administration at JIBS and project leader MCAD The visit is part of a project cooperation between Jönköping Municipality Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) at Jönköping University and Konotop that has been running since the beginning of the year The Swedish Institute-funded project is called Municipal Governance and Democratisation (MCAD) and is led by Timur Uman Professor of Business Administration at JIBS "This project is important in many ways not least to (re)-establish clear governance structures in the Ukrainian municipal sector because the Ukrainian participants learn from the Swedish model while we Swedish participants gain an understanding of how to maintain accountability during crises,” says Timur Uman The first part was a five-day online course about the Swedish model of municipal governance The second part is now underway in Jönköping and includes educational and practical activities The Ukrainian participants find the visit to Jönköping exciting and are grateful for all the new insights and experiences " It is very inspiring to see how it works in Sweden and in Jönköping Sweden is progressive and we want to learn from it for example in gender equality and how countries and cities are governed We want to make big changes in a short time,” says Teitiana Shevechenko After the Russian invasion and subsequent occupation and liberation of Konotop To rebuild and strengthen these institutions tools are needed for both democratically elected representatives and community leaders together with Jönköping Municipality and Konotop Municipality are working on developing these tools in the project "We have a fantastic cooperation with Jönköping Municipality They wanted to help rebuild Ukraine and got in touch with Konotop which was occupied but has now been liberated Helping politicians and civil servants work together to create a framework for a functioning society is very rewarding," says Timur Uman There is a shortage of electricity and water and people are living under a lot of stress and anxiety the Ukrainians say they have become used to the war it has become a way of life and now they want to focus on the future on how Konotop and the country can become stronger as soon as possible “Partnerships and cooperation inspire us and strengthen our faith in the future We are grateful for the project and all the advice we are receiving on rebuilding our country," says Rozanova Oksana” Head of the Department of Social Protection of the Konotop City Council participants will design mini projects to improve accountability in Konotop Researchers at JIBS will act as mentors and monitor the implementation of these projects The project group includes two representatives from JIBS: Timur Uman Jönköping Municipality is represented by Chantal Coté Advisor to the Mayor of Konotop Municipality Jönköping UniversityGjuterigatan 5Box 1026551 11 Jönköping, SwedenPhone +46 36 - 10 10 00Contact form More contact information About the website Manage cookies This work, Soldiers show appreciation for Konotop kids, by SFC Ashley Gillons Terpsma, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright The citizens refuse to give up defenses, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Telegram channel of the Sumy Regional Military Administration the invaders came to negotiate with city authorities Russian military came out and told him to surrender the city They threatened to fire artillery on the city The authorities have explicitly defied threats," the report said Enemy vehicles deployed outside the City Council were surrounded by citizens The official position of the Konotop authorities’ response is being shaped now Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine Russian troops have been shelling civilians also using civilians as "human shields."  Ukraine has filed a lawsuit against the Russian Federation with the UN ICC in The Hague ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has initiated a full-fledged inquiry into the situation in Ukraine Russian army carried out airstrikes on the cities of Konotop and Shostka in the Sumy region tonight there are power outages in the settlements according to the Sumy Regional Military Administration As clarified by the Sumy Regional Military Administration the Russian army carried out an airstrike on energy facilities in Shostka and Konotop using a Shahed type drones all necessary services are working at the strike sites The consequences of the enemy's attack are being clarified the administration reported that work is underway to restore electricity which was interrupted due to the enemy strike the Russian army launched kamikaze drones over Ukrainian territory and an air raid alert was issued in several regions monitoring groups reported that enemy drones were heading towards Konotop and Shostka in the Sumy region an explosion was reported in the Poltava region during the air raid alert.