How do you live when war is at your doorstep? In Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, Russian strikes have become increasingly destructive in recent months. DW reports from Sumy and villages closer to the border.
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00:00In Sumi's biggest children's hospital, victims of another Russian attack recuperate.
00:07Mum Victoria and her family had just finished dinner when the missile hit, right next to their building.
00:13In their 10th floor apartment, the sound was deafening, and shockwaves caused the walls and windows to blow out.
00:21It's a miracle that we are all alive and that the children have the least severe injuries for such an explosion.
00:28It's just amazing.
00:34Shrapnel hit Rostislav and his younger brother, who both needed surgery.
00:38They survived, but the emotional scars run deep.
00:43They are just animals. That's the only thing I can say, because they have no values, no morals, that's it.
00:5111 people were killed that night and nearly 100 others injured.
00:55Rostislav's father, a soldier who works in air defence, says attacks like this one are getting more frequent and severe.
01:05There have been more strikes recently. Everyone can see it and feel it.
01:09Both children and our entire population, which should not see and feel it.
01:14War should be between militaries and not affect civilians or our children.
01:22Even here in the hospital, the family and other patients aren't safe.
01:26Many choose to recuperate in the corridors to try to create a buffer.
01:30More protection from debris should a missile hit nearby.
01:35The city is so close to the border, the warning sirens often come too late.
01:39Something we experienced firsthand.
01:42So just as we were here in the corridor talking we heard a loud boom
01:45and we see outside the window a large plume of smoke really, really close to this hospital.
01:51Another strike on another civilian target.
01:54Two people were killed on this day.
01:58The situation is tense right across the region.
02:01Even closer to the border in Krasnopilye, the head of the community shows me extensive damage to the area.
02:08There was a drone attack.
02:11They were targeting the entire village and hit anything they could.
02:15This is very scary.
02:19With the Russians advancing and under constant attack,
02:22the town is under a mandatory evacuation order.
02:26Many people don't want to leave.
02:29Because where will they go?
02:32Of course, there's no place like home.
02:35Nobody wants to leave their homes.
02:40At the moment, the front line is still some distance away.
02:43But with that getting nearer, whether or not to leave
02:46is a decision people here may not be able to put off for much longer.