13 April 2025 became one of the most tragic dates in the history of SumDU and the city of Sumy. On the bright day of Palm Sunday – a holiday of peace, faith, and blessing – the enemy brought pain, grief, and irreparable losses. A rocket attack in the city center took the lives of 35 people.

This tragedy deeply affected the university community. Among the victims were two students from the SumDU Medical Institute: Daria LOBODA and Svitlana SHTEPA. Bright, talented, full of dreams and plans – this is how they will forever remain in our memory.

The attack was cynical and deliberate – targeting innocent people and civilian structures. University buildings sustained significant damage: the Congress Center (an architectural gem of SumDU), Academic Building 2, and other units.

On the tragedy anniversary, a memorial rally was held near the devastated university building. Representatives of the administration, faculty, students, and staff of SumDU, as well as representatives of the regional and city military administrations, volunteers, and concerned residents of the city gathered to honor the memory of those who died.

During the event, students holding posters urged drivers to stop and pay their respects to those who are no longer with us. Those present honored the memory of the victims with a moment of silence and laid flowers at the site of the tragedy.

“The memory of those whose lives were cut short by this tragedy will remain with us forever. We continue to live, learn, and build the future. Our faculty and researchers are working to bring about peaceful days when Sumy will once again be filled with smiles. Despite the pain and loss, the university was not left alone in its grief – we felt the strong support of Ukraine’s academic community, friends, and international partners. This solidarity has become a source of strength and faith in recovery for us. We are sincerely grateful for every gesture of help and compassion. This is extremely important for SumDU,” – emphasized Inna SHKOLNYK (the acting rector and first vice rector).

SumDU is rebuilding what has been destroyed. This is not just about walls – we are restoring a space for life, knowledge, and development. The enemy may destroy buildings, but it is powerless to break our memory, unity, and the inner strength of our community.

Today, at the site of the strike, there are flowers and candles as symbols of respect, mourning, and undying memory.

We bow our heads in mourning for the innocently killed. We believe that the aggressor will face just and inevitable punishment for every crime and for every life destroyed.

Eternal memory to the fallen… Strength and resilience to the living!