Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia is concentrating its military forces along Ukraine’s eastern border, signalling a potential offensive against the Sumy region.
Growing Threat at the Border
In a statement shared via Telegram, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukrainian intelligence has observed significant Russian troop movements near the Sumy region, suggesting preparations for an assault.
“We can see the directions along our eastern border where the Russian army is building up its forces. This points to an intention to strike our Sumy region. We understand this and will resist,” the president stated.
Zelenskyy called on Ukraine’s international partners to acknowledge Moscow’s plans and its continued disregard for diplomatic resolutions. He emphasised that Russia’s ongoing military build-up demonstrates its unwillingness to engage in meaningful peace negotiations.
“Russia’s accumulation of forces confirms that Moscow intends to ignore diplomacy. It is evident that Russia seeks to prolong the war. We are ready to provide our partners with all real-time intelligence on the situation at the front, in Russia’s Kursk region, and along the border,” Zelenskyy added.
Ukraine’s Military Response
The Ukrainian president also received a briefing from General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the latest reports, the situation in the Pokrovsk direction has been stabilised, while Ukrainian operations in Russia’s Kursk region continue.
Zelenskyy reassured that there are no instances of Ukrainian troops being encircled, dismissing any speculation about the vulnerability of Ukraine’s defensive positions.
Evacuation Efforts Underway
In response to the looming threat, the Sumy Regional Defence Council has ordered the mandatory evacuation of civilians from eight settlements in the Yunakivka and Myropillia communities of the Sumy district.
This decision comes amid growing concerns about intensified Russian attacks in northern Ukraine, following a similar pattern of operations seen in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.
Escalating Conflict in Northern Ukraine
The Sumy region, which borders Russia, has been a frequent target of cross-border shelling and drone strikes throughout the conflict. While the area has not witnessed large-scale ground assaults in recent months, the reported Russian troop buildup suggests a shift in strategy.
Military analysts suggest that Moscow’s objective could be to stretch Ukrainian defences along multiple fronts, forcing Kyiv to divert resources from other key battlegrounds. If Russia proceeds with an offensive in Sumy, it could intensify pressure on Ukrainian forces already engaged in heavy fighting in the east and south.
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