"Every night brings the sound of explosions," Ukrainians share their experiences living just 20 kilometers from Russia.

The village of Knyazhevka in the Novoslobodskaya community of Sumy region is located just 20 km from the border with Russia and suffers daily from attacks by Russian drones.

The situation in the community was described by local residents. On January 13 alone, six households were damaged, and one building was completely destroyed.

One of the destroyed homes belonged to a family of displaced persons from the village of Bunyakino, which is situated right at the border with the Russian Federation. Local resident Nina Plaksina recalls how the Kolotilins family – retirees Valentina and Nikolai, their 85-year-old grandmother, and their 12-year-old granddaughter – narrowly escaped a fire following the explosion.

"The drone hit at the doorstep, and then everything caught fire. The ceiling collapsed on the grandmother. Neighbors broke a window to pull her out. They managed to save the granddaughter and the documents ", Nina recounts.

Thanks to the quick assistance from neighbors, the victims were promptly evacuated. The neighbors carried the grandmother on a blanket, dressed her in warm clothes, and prepared a temporary shelter.

Nearby resident Lyubov Plaksina shares that the blast wave damaged her home: "The plaster fell off, the windows shattered, and the roof was lifted. There's a large hole in the barn, and the metal elements will need to be replaced."

Drone attacks have become a regular occurrence for the residents: "Every night, the strikes begin after eight in the evening. There’s a constant hum, explosions, and cracking sounds. The bed shakes in the house, and it’s impossible to sleep," Lyubov shares.

Among the surviving residents are a ginger cat and a dog, cared for by local residents and volunteers. Humanitarian aid includes food and necessary items for the animals. Volunteers have promised to find a new home for the animals if possible.

The head of the community, Olga Harkavenko, notes that the number of attacks has significantly increased recently: "Since the beginning of 2025, 'Shaheds' appear every night. Although artillery rarely reaches here, FPV drones and KAB munitions cause significant damage."

After one of the attacks, when a drone failed to detonate, bomb disposal experts neutralized the ordnance in the morning. Olga adds: "We all survived. It’s a real miracle."

Despite the constant shelling, the villagers do not intend to leave their homes. They support each other, rebuild what has been destroyed, and hope for an improvement in the situation.