Kyiv: Russian forces are escalating their offensive along Ukraine’s northeastern border, seeking to penetrate the Sumy region, Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Thursday.
Sumy, which shares a border with Russia’s Kursk region, has become a focal point of renewed hostilities. Ukrainian forces had previously gained ground in Kursk during last August’s cross-border operations but have since been largely pushed back.
During a visit to frontline units in Sumy, Syrskyi emphasized that Ukrainian troops were engaged in both defensive and counteroffensive operations to maintain a buffer zone within Russian territory.
“Our soldiers continue to conduct a defensive operation to prevent the enemy from breaking deep into Ukrainian territory,” he stated in a Facebook post.
Syrskyi’s warning comes amid broader concerns voiced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who, in an interview with Le Figaro late Wednesday, cautioned that Russia was preparing a large-scale spring offensive targeting both Sumy and Kharkiv.
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Ukraine’s border guard spokesperson also confirmed to local media that Russian sabotage units have intensified cross-border incursions into Sumy, further heightening security threats in the region.
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Meanwhile, Zelenskiy was in Paris on Thursday for discussions with Kyiv’s Western allies on potential diplomatic roles they could play in future peace negotiations with Russia.
