Published: TUESDAY November 18, 2025: 'Everyone Will Fight' by ZUMA Press photographer in Ukraine Francisco Richart: Civilians in Sumy city in Ukraine are under increased drone attacks as the Russian military increase strikes in the region. Just 25 miles from the border with Russia, Sumy is home to an estimated 200,000 people, the vast majority civilians who have continued living there during Russia's war, with many civilians taking up arms. Ukraine has made no secret of the urgent need to recruit more people as it tries to defend itself against the Russian aggression. Estimates speak of hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides of the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia has captured several settlements in the region and now appears to be within artillery range of Sumy city as they attempt to gain further territory with drones and rockets causing death and destruction across a wide area. These indiscriminate attacks have wreaked havoc on civilian life yet many residents choose to stay and fight to defend their homeland. Welcome to 'Everyone Will Fight'
© zReportage.com Issue #1014 Story of the Week: Published: TUESDAY November 18, 2025: 'Everyone Will Fight' by ZUMA Press photographer in Ukraine Francisco Richart: Civilians in Sumy city in Ukraine are under increased drone attacks as the Russian military increase strikes in the region. Just 25 miles from the border with Russia, Sumy is home to an estimated 200,000 people, the vast majority civilians who have continued living there during Russia's war, with many civilians taking up arms. Ukraine has made no secret of the urgent need to recruit more people as it tries to defend itself against the Russian aggression. Estimates speak of hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides of the conflict since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia has captured several settlements in the region and now appears to be within artillery range of Sumy city as they attempt to gain further territory with drones and rockets causing death and destruction across a wide area. These indiscriminate attacks have wreaked havoc on civilian life yet many residents choose to stay and fight to defend their homeland. Welcome to 'Everyone Will Fight'

A member of the Proliska organization enters a destroyed house near the Sumy train station after the Russian kamikaze drone attack. Proliska is a Ukrainian humanitarian organization that provides comprehensive assistance to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A red car stuck in a sinkhole caused by intense shelling in the village of Khotin, just a few kilometers from the Sumy war frontlines with Russia. These indiscriminate attacks have wreaked havoc on civilian life yet many residents choose to stay and fight to defend their homeland.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Blood stains on a blanket from the injured driver of a vehicle destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Sumy. The northern regions of Chernihiv and Sumy, adjoining Russia and Belarus, have seen constant attacks over the past month.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A large column of smoke rises over the city of Sumy following a Russian drone attack on a factory. Russia has captured several settlements in the region and now appears to be within artillery range of Sumy city as they attempt to gain further territory with drones and rockets causing death and destruction across a wide area.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A woman walks past the charred remains of a Sumy university campus building after a Russian airstrike. These indiscriminate attacks have wreaked havoc on civilian life yet many residents choose to stay and fight to defend their homeland.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

High in the sky a Russian drone known as 'Shahed' plummeting toward one of its targets in the city of Sumy. Russia has captured several settlements in the region and now appears to be within artillery range of Sumy city as they attempt to gain further territory with drones and rockets causing death and destruction across a wide area.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A resident of Sumy cries while standing in her badly damaged home after it was hit by a Russian kamikaze drone. Russia has captured several settlements in the region and now appears to be within artillery range of Sumy city as they attempt to gain further territory with drones and rockets causing death and destruction across a wide area.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A police officer carries several parts of a Russian drone that hit the Sumy maternity hospital building. Russia has captured several settlements in the region and now appears to be within artillery range of Sumy city as they attempt to gain further territory with drones and rockets causing death and destruction across a wide area.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A civilian woman practices aiming with a prop AK-47 in a forest in Sumy during a weapons training session. Just 25 miles from the border with Russia, Sumy is home to an estimated 200,000 people, the vast majority civilians who have continued living there during Russia's war, with many civilians taking up arms.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A civilian woman practices aiming with a prop AK-47 in a forest in Sumy during a rifle shooting training session. Just 25 miles from the border with Russia, Sumy is home to an estimated 200,000 people, the vast majority civilians who have continued living there during Russia's war, with many civilians taking up arms.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Ukrainian civilian women practice marksmanship with a non-functional AK-47 rifles during a weapons training session. Just 25 miles from the border with Russia, Sumy is home to an estimated 200,000 people, the vast majority civilians who have continued living there during Russia's war, with many civilians taking up arms.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Seen through a damaged window an elementary school has been hit by a Russian drone attack in the Ukrainian city of Sumy. Some schools in Ukraine have moved to underground locations like basements or purpose-built structures to protect students from Russian attacks.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A primary school principal witnesses the destruction caused by a Russian drone at her school in the city of Sumy. Some schools in Ukraine have moved to underground locations like basements or purpose-built structures to protect students from Russian attacks.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A mother cares for her newborn baby while sheltering in the basement of the Sumy maternity hospital after a Russian drone struck the building's roof.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A child paints the Ukrainian emblem in a school set up in a basement in the city of Sumy. Some schools in Ukraine have moved to underground locations like basements or purpose-built structures to protect students from Russian attacks.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Apart from dailt education classes, children in bunkered schools in Kharkiv city are also fed meals so they don't have to leave the shelter and run the risk of a Russian air attack. These underground classrooms are equipped with ventilation, electricity, and other modern supplies.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Attendees comfort each other during a funeral procession for a fallen Ukrainian soldier and offer their condolences to his family in Sumy. As of August 2023, U.S. intelligence officials estimated around 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A young soldier holds the Military decorations of a fallen Ukrainian comrade during his funeral march in Sumy. As of August 2023, U.S. intelligence officials estimated around 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

A group of veterans of the Ukrainian army who all lost their sight during the war, sit by the window in a rehabilitation campus class organized by nonprofit Contemporary View. This Ukrainian organization runs rehabilitation camps for veterans who have lost their sight and teaches them fundamental skills, from using a phone to navigating the city.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

OLESIA PEREPECHENKO, director of 'Contemporary View'stands in one of the corridors of the rehabilitation center. These rehab courses are supported by the Danish Blind Association. This Ukrainian nonprofit 'Contemporary View' runs rehabilitation camps for veterans who have lost their sight and teaches them fundamental skills, from using a phone to navigating the city.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

STAS, the youngest member of this course for blind veterans, says that he maintained 'tranquility' when a Russian drone exploded infront of his face, causing him to lose his sight and right forearm. The Ukrainian nonprofit 'Contemporary View' runs rehabilitation camps for veterans who have lost their sight and teaches them fundamental skills, from using a phone to navigating the city.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire

Former Ukrainian military officer OLEKSANDR served in the Kharkiv region, one of the hottest points in the ongoing war with Russia. Now he fights to adapt to the new life with a visual disability. This Ukrainian nonprofit 'Contemporary View' runs rehabilitation camps for veterans who have lost their sight and teaches them fundamental skills, from using a phone to navigating the city.
© Francisco Richart/ZUMA Press Wire