Kyiv: Russian troops are intensifying their offensive in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, expanding the frontline and moving closer to the regional capital, Ukrainian officials and military analysts have confirmed. On Tuesday, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its forces had seized control of the village of Andriivka, a development that edges Sumy city further into the operational range of Russian frontline drones.
The offensive comes as Ukraine continues to demonstrate its fighting capabilities, launching successful strikes in recent days targeting Russian strategic assets, including long-range bombers and the heavily fortified Crimean Bridge.
Despite ongoing talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Turkey, prospects for peace appear dim. Moscow has reiterated that any resolution would require Kyiv to relinquish vast swathes of territory and accept strict limitations on the size of its armed forces.
Russia’s reported advance follows a deadly artillery strike on Sumy city, which Ukrainian authorities said resulted in four civilian deaths and 28 injuries. The head of Sumy’s regional military administration, Oleh Hryhorov, convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday to coordinate defensive efforts amid the worsening situation.
“The situation in the border area of Sumy region remains complex, dynamic, but controllable,” Hryhorov stated on Facebook.
“The Russian army is constantly shelling border villages, hitting residential buildings, farms, and civilian infrastructure facilities.”
Military analysts warn that the dual pressure of Russia’s advance in the north and its relentless campaign in the southeast’s Donbas region is straining Ukraine’s defensive capabilities across multiple fronts.
On Monday, Ivan Shevtsov, spokesperson for the Ukrainian brigades deployed in the Sumy region, told Ukrainian national broadcaster that Russian forces had gained approximately 15 kilometers of ground along the frontline, with their deepest advance pushing 6–7 kilometers into Ukrainian territory.
Shevtsov emphasized the strategic importance of the town of Yunakivka, noting that its capture would place Sumy city under direct threat.
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The Ukrainian Deep State project, which tracks battlefield movements using open-source intelligence, reported that Russian forces are now within 20 to 25 kilometers of Sumy—well within range for short-range drones. While Ukraine’s General Staff has not confirmed the fall of Andriivka in its official updates, Deep State analysts said on Wednesday that the village had indeed fallen into Russian hands.
In response to the escalating threat, Sumy authorities ordered mandatory evacuations over the weekend for 11 more villages near the frontline.
“Russia wants to completely capture the Sumy region, not just make a small incursion,” Shevtsov warned.
“Just … like other regions in eastern Ukraine,” he added.
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The situation remains fluid and dangerous, with fears mounting that Sumy could soon become a major target in Russia’s ongoing campaign to seize more Ukrainian territory.
