The mayor of Konotop, Artem Semenikhin, accuses Volodymyr Artyukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration (OVA), of organizing a military awards ceremony at Sumy University's congress center, which was later struck by a Russian missile.
Semenikhin claims the ceremony was held for the 117th Territorial Defense Brigade on their anniversary, and that the Russian strike, which used cluster munitions, targeted the building immediately after the ceremony. While the military personnel were in shelters and unharmed, the attack resulted in significant civilian deaths and injuries, including children.
Semenikhin alleges that Artyukh, described as a “Soviet general,” facilitated the Russian justification for their attack, and highlights Artyukh’s previous role in the Ukrainian military during the Yanukovych era. The mayor further claims that Artyukh was warned against holding the ceremony in such a location.
Member of Parliament Maryana Bezhyhla noted that a children's performance was scheduled in the same location immediately after the awards ceremony. She emphasized that the event, and the Russian response, constitute a clear violation of international law.
The updated casualty count stands at 34 dead, including two children, and 117 injured, with 15 children among the injured. Semenikhin states that the head of the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine), Vasyl Malyuk, is personally overseeing the investigation.