The first settlers on the territory of today’s Sumy Region came here about 15 thousand years ago. Since the first centuries BC the whole territory of modern Sumy Region was a part of the land on which the early Slavic tribes resided. In VII-X centuries Sumy Region territory was populated by the Slavic tribe of ‘siveryany’ (‘northerners’). The long process of socio-economic development of the eastern Slavs became a prerequisite for the formation of feudal relations and the formation of one of the most powerful states in that time - Kiev Rus’. Mykhailo Hrushevsky once wrote such words about its splendor and might: "By the end of the IX century much of the land already belonged to Kiev, not only Ukrainian but also other lands as far as the present St. Petersburg and Moscow paid tribute to Kiev princes".
Also the lands of modern Sumy Region were a part of Kiev Rus’. The land located on the edge of steppe was comparatively densely populated despite constant invasions of nomads. The region is known for more than 80 ancient settlements, burial grounds. In addition to small settlements, there were larger cities which are mentioned in the old chronicles: Romny, Vir, Vyahan, Putivl, Popash, Hlukhiv, Zarty. The territory of Sumy Region was the scene of desperate internal feudal wars, especially in the 40s of the XII century. Having taken advantage of feudal internal wars ‘polovtsi’ (tribe) would increase the pressure. That time, feats and fame, mistakes and defeats of the people who inhabited the land found its reflection in the greatest work of art of Kiev Rus’ – “Fame of Prince Ihor’s Troops”. In early 20s of the thirteenth century the Mongol-Tatar hordes rushed from the east.  Splendor and might were replaced by recession and oppression.  In 50-60s of the XIV century our land was a part of the Grand Principality of Lithuania and Rich Paspolyta (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth).  Attempts to revive the glory of Kiev Rus' were made by Bohdan Khmelnitsky. In the period of Liberation War and by the death of Hetman Khmelnitsky there existed Ukrainian State which also included the land of Sumy Region, namely the territories of Hlukhiv, Konotop, Romny, Krolevets. Later on these lands were included to Hetman Ukraine, whereas the south-eastern part belonged to Slobozhanschina (north-eastern Ukraine). Among larger cities were Hlukhiv, Krolevets, Konotop, Romny, Putivl, Sumy.
Sumy Region became the center of mass of the partisan (guerrilla) movement. Only in the northern areas were established 35 partisan groups.  Sumy people fought in the Ukrainian Rebellion Army too: the big majority fall joined the URA. One of the leaders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists was poet O. Oles's son Olzhych Oleg who was executed by fascists in 1944.
Sumy Region is the birthplace of famous figures of science and culture: philosopher and critic M.O. Antonovich, the philologist O.O. Potebnya, astronomer O.G. Savitch, poets P.A. Grabovsky and Ya.I. Schogolev, historian O.G. Lazarev, educator T.G. Lubenets, bibliographer S.I. Ponomariv, painter and teacher M.I. Murashka, artist G.I. Narbut and many other prominent personalities.
The most interesting objects of tourism are: architecture sights of XVII-XIX centuries in Putivl, landscape art and architecture sight - the park and the palace of the XIX century in the village Kiyanitsa; architecture sights of XVIII-XX centuries, museums: art gallery and museum of applied arts, house-museum of the famous writer Anton Chekhov in Sumy; architecture sights of XVIII-XIX centuries in the towns Romny, Lebedyn and Okhtyrka.

Sumy Region was created on January 10, 1939. It was composed of 12 districts of Kharkiv Region, 17 – of Chernigiv Region and 2 - of Poltava Region. Nowadays it consists of 18 rayons (districts), 15 towns, 7 of them are of regional subordination, 20 urban villages, 384 village communities, 1466 villages. The largest cities are – Sumy, Konotop, Shostka, Okhtyrka, Romny.

The leadership of Sumy Region State Administration is represented by the Chairman, First Deputy Chairman of Region State Administration; Deputy Chairman of Regional State Administration on the information sphere, religion, nationalities, culture, sports; Deputy Chairman of Region State Administration on humanitarian and social sphere; Deputy Chairman of Region State Administration for construction, housing, utilities and road infrastructure, energy, transport and communications; Deputy Chairman of Region State Administration for agriculture and food, retail, catering, consumer services; Deputy Chairman of the Region State Administration on political and legal issues; Deputy Chairman Region State Administration on the organization of activities on the organizational, legal, personnel and control work.

Sumy Region is located in the north-east of Ukraine. It stretches for 200 km from north to south and from west to east – for 170 km. In the north and east it borders on Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod Regions of Russian Federation. The length of the borderline with the Russian Federation, which runs through the area is 498 km. In the south and south-east the region is bordered by the Poltava and Kharkiv Regions, in the west - Chernigiv Region of Ukraine. Distance from the capital city Kiev to Sumy by railway is 350 km, by highway - 359 km.

1,200 thousand people

Sumy Region has developed productive capacities and according to the level of technogenic load area ranks in the top ten regions of Ukraine. The region is the industrial-agrarian region of Ukraine. Production specialization of the regions is related to the extraction of energy resources, development of mechanical engineering, chemical and petrochemical industries, processing industries of agriculture. Agriculture is presented by crop production (the cultivation of cereals, potatoes, sugar beet and other industrial crops) and livestock.
Basis of the Economy of Sumy Region is industry which is an important area of employment and budget making branch.
Today the industry of Sumy region - is a multi-branch complex, which brings together some 270 large and medium-sized enterprises and employs 77.5 thousand people or 29% of those employed in the regional economy.
Sumy Region is one of the major regions of Ukraine where crude oil and natural gas are extracted.  Fuel and energy complex is presented by the enterprises for production of fuel-energy minerals, production of refined petroleum products, supply and conservation of oil, gas and petroleum products; production and distribution of electricity and gas.
The region has a strong machine-building complex, represented by a number of large enterprises. The largest among them – JSC “Sumy Scientific and Production Association named M.V. Frunze” which is one of Europe's largest producers of gas pumping units and complete compressor stations for various purposes, centrifugal, vacuum, chemical pumps, centrifuges, equipment for chemical, gas and petrochemical industries. Besides, the following companies are working successfully on the foreign and the domestic market: JSC "Nasosenergomash", Concern "Ukrrosmetal, LLC “Motordetal-Konotop” etc. Machine-building enterprises are the largest employers of (38.3% of total employment in the industry) and significant taxpayers (8.2% of the total payments over the region). Nowadays six regional research institutes are engaged in innovative developments in the field of machine building.
Quarter of total industry sales volumes meets innovation. Every year enterprises of machine building implement in average 45 new technological processes, dozens of titles of new products. Around UAH 100 million is invested in the fixed capital.  Besides 12 machine building enterprises have attracted foreign capital, the total cost is estimated at USD 72.3 million.
Chemical and petrochemical industries are concentrated geographically in Sumy and Shostka. They produce a wide range of products, including mineral fertilizers, acids, mineral pigments, chemicals, paint products, fireworks, means of initiating an explosion, hunting charges, rubber products, vaccines for veterinary medicine and many other, and since 2010 - medical equipment and medical products have been produced in Sumy at LLC “Kusum Pharm”.
Over 60% of the chemical and petrochemical products are shipped to foreign markets.
Agricultural sector has a significant potential for development and is one of the leading industries of the regional economy. Agriculture in Sumy Region specializes in crop production in the cultivation of grain and industrial crops, in livestock - in milk and meat production in cattle and pigs. The total area of agricultural land area of over 1.7 million hectares, of which over 1.2 million hectares - arable land.
In agriculture of the region there are 378 agricultural enterprises of different forms of ownership and management, 739 farms, over 150 thousand private farms. 21.6 thousand of people are employed in the industry.

Sumy Region can be attributed to the regions of Ukraine with the unique historical and cultural heritage. Settlement of the territory began about 15,000 years ago. Since the first centuries BC the whole territory of modern Sumy Region was a part of the land on which the early Slavic tribes resided - tribes of siveryany. The region is known for more than 80 ancient settlements, burial grounds. In addition to small settlements, there were larger cities which are mentioned in the old chronicles: Romny, Vir, Vyahan, Putivl, Popash, Hlukhiv, Zarty. Towns of Putivl, Hlukhiv, Romny are included in the list of the most important historic cities in Ukraine. Sumy Region is a place with a long history. On its territory there are about 1.5 thousand historical monuments, 700 archaeological monuments, more than 100 examples of monumental art and 373 – of architecture. This is the land which gave the national and world culture a lot of outstanding talents. In the village of Nyzy, by Sumy, and in Trostyanets the great composer P.I. Tchaikovsky would pay visits. In Lebedyn composer Rachmaninov would rest and work. Every spring in Sumy (to Luka) Anton Chekhov would come by, and Lesya Ukrainka wrote her "Spring Singing" in Sumy Region, in the village Kosovschina. Sumy land is famous for the names of its countrymen, magic nature and traditional holidays of cities and towns. Almost all districts of the region are perspective for the development of different types of tourism.

Sumy Region is Ukraine's unique natural site.
Sumy Region is located within two climatic zones - marshy woodlands and forest-steppe. In the northern part grey forest soils dominate, humus (black soil) is typical for the southern part.
Natural reserved fund of the region consists of 102 protected areas and sites with a total area of over 139.8 thousand hectares, including the nature reserve, wildlife sanctuaries, natural monuments, arboretum, the National Natural Park, parks-monuments, reserve tracts, which cover 5.9% of the region. The Region attracts to the picturesque banks of numerous rivers, drinking water sources with valuable medicinal properties and drinking.