On August 18, 2025, the educational and scientific building of Sumy State University was severely damaged as a result of an attack by enemy drones. It was there that the office of the public organization Center for Public Initiatives “Intellect of Sumy Region” had been operating for over ten years. Fire and water damaged offices, training rooms, documents, literature, and some of the property that had been accumulated over the years. But the team did not lose the most important thing — itself. Read about how the team recovered after the loss in the organization’s article.
First emotions and the power of unity
Deputy Chair of the Board Andriana Kostenko recalls that the first few minutes after the news broke were difficult: “It’s hard to realize that the place where you’ve worked for years is no longer there. All your memories, your entire history, seem to be cut off. But it is in moments like these that you see most clearly who your friends are. We cried for 20 minutes, mourned, because we had to, and then we decided: we have to get together and move on.”
“At that moment, we realized that we were losing not only equipment and furniture, but something much more significant—a place that was our anchor, where different people and communities could gather, where everyone could find support,” recalls Kristina Sakhno, a member of the organization.
Despite the pain and loss, the most valuable thing remained: the team. Within a few days, it became clear that Intellect Sumy would not stop, but would simply change its address. The organization’s team gathered the very next day: they arrived at the site, assessed the damage, and thought about what could be saved and what would have to be let go. “We made sure that we had a really great team. Everyone was ready to take on their share of responsibility, to act quickly and together,” says Andriana.
What we managed to save
Despite the scale of the destruction, we still managed to save some things. We removed some of the furniture, equipment, and tablets used for analytical research and conducting surveys from the premises. At the same time, a large number of documents, books, methodological literature, and materials accumulated over the years were lost.
“The most painful thing is when you see that it is impossible to restore the things you put your heart and soul into. But we decided to save even the little things, such as the flowers that survived. Because for us, they are also a symbol of our history,” says Kristina.
Support from the university and partners
One of the first to come to the aid of the NGO was Sumy State University, which provided the team with another premises. Although it is small and not yet fully equipped, it has become a new starting point for Intellect of Sumy Region. “The university has a long history of cooperation with us. And although the loss of Building N was a blow to both us and the university, it is important that we remain together. We were provided with a room where we can work, develop communities, and implement projects,” says Andriana Kostenko.
The support of partners also became an important source of strength. Through social media and personal messages, the team received dozens of words of support from international organizations, foundations, and colleagues from other regions. “It gave us the feeling that we are not alone. There are people, partners, and our beneficiaries nearby. And that motivated us to keep going,” adds Kristina Sakhno.
People are our greatest asset
Despite losing its office, the organization did not halt any of its projects. In August, immediately after relocating, the team resumed its work. Psychologists, social workers, and trainers continued to support communities in the Sumy region.
“Yes, we lack a separate room for psychologists to work with clients. This is a task we have set ourselves for the near future. But even without a permanent space, we remain close to the people. Because our work is not about walls and furniture, it is first and foremost about relationships and trust,” emphasizes Ms. Andriana.
The new office already has banners from partner organizations—the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Renaissance Foundation, and the humanitarian organization ACTED. They remind the team that recovery is a joint process where every contribution matters.
A transformative experience
For the team, this experience was both painful and valuable. It showed how important human relationships, trust, and mutual support are. “We lost our space, but we didn’t lose the meaning of our work. We are moving forward because we know that there are people who believe in us and share our values. And that is the greatest strength,” concludes Ms. Kristina.
Today, Intellect of Sumy Region continues to hold online and offline events, bringing people together for collaboration and dialogue. Despite the smell of smoke that still lingers in the new premises, the atmosphere here is filled with faith. Because every meeting, every conversation is a step towards the restoration not only of the organization, but of the community as a whole.
This story is not about the loss of walls, but about the strength that has been found. Intellect Sumy Region has proven that even when the familiar space disappears, the team, unity, and faith in people allow everything to be rebuilt from scratch. And the most important thing that remains after any trials is people.
This material was prepared by the NGO “Center for Public Initiatives ”Intellect of Sumy Region“ as part of the Impulse Project, implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation and the Eastern Europe Foundation with funding from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida). The content of the material does not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation, the Eastern Europe Foundation, the Government of Norway, or the Government of Sweden.
