Russian troops advance to Sumy in northern Ukraine

Russian troops advance to Sumy in northern Ukraine

The Russian armed forces continue their advance in the northern Ukrainian region of Sumy continued, putting the regional capital within range of their drones and artillery, according to Ukrainian officials and analysts. According to Ivan Shevtsov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian military in the region, Russian forces are continuously bombing the area and further evacuations of civilians are being carried out.

Current situation in Sumy

“At the moment, the enemy has already occupied about 15 kilometers on the front line and 6-7 kilometers deep into our territory,” Shevtsov explained. The Russians are trying to work their way towards the town of Yunakivka, just a few kilometers from their current positions.

Attacks on civilian areas

The military administration of Sumy reported that Russian troops carried out nearly 150 bombings on 47 settlements in the region in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that its troops have captured the village of Andriivka while expanding the front line, the official TASS news agency reported.

Consequences of further Russian attacks

Shevtsov noted that with further advances, the Russians could launch more coordinated attacks on the city of Sumy. The city's current population is unknown, but approximately 250,000 people previously lived there. The unofficial Ukrainian group DeepState, which monitors the front lines, reported that Russian forces have occupied another settlement in northern Sumy, putting them only about 20 kilometers from the city of Sumy.

The threat from enemy drones

“The situation in the north of the Sumy region continues to deteriorate due to constant enemy pressure and large numbers of infantry,” DeepState said. “The threat of the enemy advance is that the distance of 20-25 kilometers will be reached, which will allow FPV drones to fly to the city of Sumy.” They added that Ukrainian forces could not counter the Russians' use of fiber-optic drones capable of evading jamming.

Shortage of personnel in the Ukrainian army

“A separate problem is the lack of personnel to hold back the enemy, which is serious,” DeepState continued. In recent weeks, the Russians have increased their units in the region, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported, after President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's neighboring Kursk region in mid-May and ordered the creation of a buffer zone within Sumy.

Military situation and warnings

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned last month that Russia had deployed more than 50,000 troops near the Sumy region. The Ukrainian armed forces are now stretched at several points on the front line - from the northern border to the Black Sea. ISW reported on Monday that Russian forces have recently intensified their ground attacks and deployed several experienced brigades, including airborne troops.

Attacks on Sumy city

Shevtsov, the Ukrainian military spokesman, emphasized that Russian forces “intend not only to create a so-called buffer zone at a depth of 20-30 kilometers, but to capture the entire Sumy region.” On Tuesday, the city of Sumy was hit by a rocket attack that left three people dead and about 20 injured, the local military administration said. Zelensky described this attack as “a cruel blow… directly targeting the city and its ordinary streets with rocket artillery.”

Outlook on military strategy

On Monday, Zelensky described northern Sumy as one of the “hottest” areas on the front line. However, taking the regional capital Sumy is likely to be a challenge for the Russians as the terrain is heavily forested. Nevertheless, Russian military strategy through its attacks can prevent the Ukrainians from moving their troops to Donetsk and other sectors of the front. According to ISW, “Russian forces have not captured a Ukrainian city with a pre-war population of more than 100,000 since July 2022.”