Ukrainian Army Stops Russian Advance in Sumy, But Border Region Remains on Edge
SUMY — Ukrainian forces have stopped a Russian ground advance in the Sumy region, according to Ukraine’s top military commander. General Oleksandr Syrskyi said during a Thursday visit to the front that the situation along the northeastern border has been “stabilized,” and that Russia’s latest offensive push “has been choked off.”
Syrskyi cautioned that the region still faces serious vulnerabilities. He called for faster construction of defensive positions, including barriers to block drones and reinforced supply routes. “Additional fortifications, the establishment of kill zones, and anti-drone corridors are tasks underway,” Syrskyi said. “But they must be executed faster and with better quality.”
His remarks follow growing concern in Kyiv over delays in fortifying the area, which directly borders Russia’s Kursk region. In recent months, Moscow has increased military pressure along this stretch of the front.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in April that Russia would create “buffer zones” along its border with Ukraine. That plan came after Ukrainian forces briefly pushed into parts of Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, forcing a temporary Russian withdrawal.
Ukrainian officials warned in late May that about 50,000 Russian troops had amassed along the border. President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the time that Russia aimed to establish a 10-kilometer buffer inside Ukrainian territory. That effort has since escalated into repeated attacks.
Heavy fighting has damaged parts of Sumy, which has been under missile assault for months. A single Russian ballistic missile strike on April 13 killed at least 34 people and injured over 100, according to Ukrainian authorities.
While Ukrainian troops have prevented further Russian advances for now, the area remains exposed. Civilian monitoring group DeepState reported ongoing combat in areas without adequate fortifications. The group also noted that many trenches and shelters are incomplete or poorly constructed.
“The delays in building these fortifications can no longer be ignored,” DeepState said in a public update.
Russia claims it has no immediate plans to seize Sumy, but Putin did not rule it out when asked at a recent forum in St. Petersburg. “We do not have the goal of capturing Sumy, but I don’t rule it out,” he said. He also claimed Russian forces have already established an 8- to 12-kilometer buffer zone on the border.
Ukraine’s defense efforts come as drone and missile attacks by Russia increase across the country. Kyiv has been hit repeatedly in recent weeks, with Ukrainian air defenses struggling to intercept all incoming drones.
On the diplomatic front, talks between Ukraine and Russia have produced large prisoner exchanges but failed to move toward a ceasefire. Western support remains strong, with NATO allies recently pledging €35 billion to Ukraine. But questions persist over future U.S. aid.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Zelensky during the NATO summit in The Hague and said the meeting “couldn’t have been nicer.” Trump indicated he is considering providing Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine, though he noted, “They’re very hard to get.”
Ukraine’s war with Russia, which began in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year with no immediate resolution in sight. As summer fighting heats up, Ukraine’s military braces for continued pressure along its northern front.
