Russian forces have intensified their offensive operations in the northern part of Sumy region, attempting to create a so-called “buffer zone” following the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from border positions in Russia’s Kursk region. This was reported by the OSINT project DeepState in its Telegram channel.
According to analysts, the first enemy attempts to gain a foothold in Sumy region took place in early March. After capturing the village of Sverdlikovo in the Kursk region, Russian troops began pushing Ukrainian Defence Forces from border positions, moving toward the village of Novenke. However, Ukrainian soldiers managed to repel the initial attacks.
Fighting then escalated near the settlements of Zhuravka and Veselivka. The enemy used wooded areas and quad bikes to quickly move deeper into Ukrainian territory, particularly towards the village of Basivka. Despite suffering heavy losses, Russian troops managed to secure a foothold along the line Veselivka–Zhuravka–Novenke–Basivka and began launching assaults toward Bilovody and Lokni.
According to DeepState, Ukrainian units continue to resist the attacks, inflicting losses on enemy infantry and equipment. For example, a group of Russian infantry that took shelter in houses in Bilovody was recently eliminated by drones operated by Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service.
Despite the enemy’s pressure and numerical advantage, Ukrainian forces have managed to somewhat stabilize the situation. However, daily attempts to advance and ongoing shelling persist, and the risk of the fighting expanding further into the border areas of Sumy region remains high.