Published: TUESDAY January 13, 2026: 'LAST TO LEAVE: Evacuating Civilians Under Fire' by ZUMA Press photographer in Ukraine Francisco Richart: As Russia continues pressing its attacks into Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, a special police unit known as the White Angels faces an increasingly daunting mission: Rescuing the last civilian holdouts from villages under heavy fire and getting them to safer regions. Evacuations in Ukraine's Sumy region, especially for the elderly, have been challenging due to constant Russian attacks, with residents often refusing to leave, leading to difficult rescues by groups like the ''White Angels'' and Red Cross. Many elderly become trapped, facing abduction risks, as seen in Hrabovske where older residents were taken to Russia. Humanitarian efforts focus on providing transport and aid for those evacuating, with UNHCR and partners assisting with transit centers, despite ongoing risks and limited capacity for specialized care for the aging population. Welcome to 'LAST TO LEAVE: Evacuating Civilians Under Fire'
© zReportage.com Issue #1023 Story of the Week: Published: TUESDAY January 13, 2026: 'LAST TO LEAVE: Evacuating Civilians Under Fire' by ZUMA Press photographer in Ukraine Francisco Richart: As Russia continues pressing its attacks into Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, a special police unit known as the White Angels faces an increasingly daunting mission: Rescuing the last civilian holdouts from villages under heavy fire and getting them to safer regions. Evacuations in Ukraine's Sumy region, especially for the elderly, have been challenging due to constant Russian attacks, with residents often refusing to leave, leading to difficult rescues by groups like the ''White Angels'' and Red Cross. Many elderly become trapped, facing abduction risks, as seen in Hrabovske where older residents were taken to Russia. Humanitarian efforts focus on providing transport and aid for those evacuating, with UNHCR and partners assisting with transit centers, despite ongoing risks and limited capacity for specialized care for the aging population. Welcome to 'LAST TO LEAVE: Evacuating Civilians Under Fire'

A police officer from the White Angels police group observes the village of Krasnopillya through the window of an armored van on the way to a civilian evacuation. Rescue missions, especially in frontline areas, are carried out by this police team, which has technological equipment to detect Russian FPV drones and weapons to shoot them down.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A refugee recently evacuated from the village of Ryasne, weeps as she recounts her situation in a room at the assistance center in Sumy. As Russia continues pressing its attacks into Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, a special police unit known as the White Angels faces an increasingly daunting mission: Rescuing the last civilian holdouts from villages under heavy fire and getting them to safer regions.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A police evacuation group member of the White Angels helps evacuate an elderly woman from the village of Krasnopillya. Rescue missions, especially in frontline areas, are carried out by this police team.
© Francisco Richart/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

The police evacuation group White Angels evacuates civilians inclusing a blin man at right, from the village of Krasnopillya. Rescue missions, especially in frontline areas, are carried out by this police team, which has technological equipment to detect Russian FPV drones and weapons to shoot them down.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

The police evacuation group White Angels help evacuate an elderly civilian from the village of Krasnopillya. Rescue missions, especially in frontline areas, are carried out by this police team, which has technological equipment to detect Russian FPV drones and weapons to shoot them down.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A cat watches as an armed police officer from the White Angels group stands guard during an evacuation of civilians from the village of Krasnopillya.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

In an apartment managed by the Beregynya center, a Ukrainian choral group made up of elderly refugees from the evacuated villages of Sumy, the region with the largest geriatric population in Ukraine. Despite the proximity to the war front and the harsh conditions for the inhabitants of this city, social services continue their work with the most vulnerable people.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Apartment blocks seen through a hole caused by a Russian kamikaze drone in a residential building in Sumy.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

An elderly refugee recently evacuated from the village of Ryasne, weeps while sitting on the bed in her room at an assistance center in Sumy. She is one of many evacuated from frontline villages during the Russian war on Ukraine.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A resident of Sumy collects glass from a shattered window in her dining room after her apartment building was struck by a Russian drone.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Two refugees recently evacuated from the village of Ryasne play with their pet guinea pig in a room at the refugee assistance center in Sumy. As Russia continues pressing its attacks into Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, a special police unit known as the White Angels faces an increasingly daunting mission: Rescuing the last civilian holdouts from villages under heavy fire and getting them to safer regions.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Two women who are both refugees recently evacuated from the village of Ryasne, sit together in a room on Christmas Day at the Pluriton assistance center in Sumy.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Refugees recently evacuated from the village of Ryasne, sit on a bunkbed in their room at the Pluriton assistance center in Sumy. 'White Angels' are a Ukrainian special police unit rescuing civilians, including families and the elderly, from intense shelling in the Sumy region, working with groups like the Red Cross to evacuate people from frontline villages.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Local residents of Sumy serve tea to volunteers working in a building after it was hit by a Russian drone. For locals in Sumy, making the decision to leave their homes behind, even with the assistance of the White Angels, is still vexing. The rescuers remain on patrol for those who choose to evacuate while there's still time.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Red Cross workers patrol the Bilopillia road which is covered by protective anti-drone nets. It is estimated that around forty kilometres of this road are covered by these nets which help prevent aerial attacks.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

As winter snows cover the ground, Red Cross workers transport an elderly woman who wants to return to her home in the town of Vorozhba, six kilometers from Russia.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

An elderly woman's relative accompanies her into an ambulance during her transfer to her home in Vorozhba, six kilometers from the frontline with Russia. Evacuations in Ukraine's Sumy region, especially for the elderly, have been challenging due to constant Russian attacks, with residents often refusing to leave, leading to difficult rescues by groups like the ''White Angels'' and Red Cross.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Residents of Sumy survey damage to a residential building following a Russian drone attack in Sumy. Blasts and the buzz of drones are constants for residents of this part of Sumy.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A resident points to damage on the facade of an educational building in Sumy after an attack by Russian drones. Blasts and the buzz of drones are constants for residents of this part of Sumy.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A local resident, visibly shaken, stands inside an educational building in Sumy that was damaged after it was hit in a Russian drone attack.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A Ukrainian volunteer wearing protective gear stands near a window recently shattered after a Russian drone attack on a nearby power station in Sumy.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Huge explosions light up the night sky during a massive attack by Russian drones on energy infrastructure which left much of the city of Sumy without electricity. Thirteen explosions were reported within a period of thirty minutes. United Nations figures indicate that more than 13,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed so far since the full-scale invasion began three years ago, a large portion of that from air strikes.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire