Russian military forces have reportedly seized control of four villages in Ukraine’s Sumy region, near the border with Russia, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict. The development comes amid continuous Russian air strikes targeting the area for several months.
Oleh Hryhorov, governor of the Sumy region, announced on Monday via Facebook that Russian troops had taken control of the villages of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka. He added that residents of these villages had been evacuated prior to the occupation.
“The enemy is continuing attempts to advance with the aim of setting up a so-called ‘buffer zone,'” Hryhorov said. Despite this, he reassured that Ukrainian forces remain vigilant, “keeping the situation under control” and delivering precise counterattacks on Russian positions.
Heavy fighting continues around other settlements, including Volodymyrivka and Bilovodivka—areas that Russia’s Defense Ministry has also claimed to control as of Monday. Russian military bloggers have echoed these claims in recent days, marking the first time Russian forces have gained positions along several border villages.
Sumy region, located opposite Russia’s Kursk province, has been a hotspot of military activity. In August last year, Ukrainian forces launched a significant cross-border operation into Kursk, though Moscow claims it has repelled the incursion, while Kyiv maintains its forces remain active there.
The conflict has taken a toll on civilians. Ukraine’s State Emergency Services reported that a shelling attack west of the captured villages killed one person on Monday. The main city of Sumy suffered a devastating Russian missile strike on Palm Sunday last month, resulting in 35 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Russian forces have reportedly launched fresh attacks further east near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, following an earlier incursion in May 2024, according to Ukraine’s military blog DeepState.
As fighting intensifies, the strategic importance of these villages and the wider Sumy region remains high for both sides, highlighting the ongoing volatility of the conflict along Ukraine’s northern border.
Sources By Agencies
