The Ukrainian General Staff announced on 29/6 that the situation on the Sumy border had "stabilized," claiming to have halted the Russian advance. "Ukraine's active defense in the Sumy region and on the front bordering the Kursk region forced the enemy to deploy 50,000 troops. This force has never been deployed to another front," the General Staff said.

The Ukrainian military later claimed to have retaken the village of Andreevka and advanced into the nearby village of Alekseevka. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, believes Moscow’s primary strategy in Sumy is to exhaust Kyiv's resources with overwhelming numbers.

Data compiled by DeepState, an analytical group linked to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, indicates that Russia controls several villages and areas totaling over 208 square kilometers in the Sumy region, an increase of over 100 square kilometers in the past month. Russian forces have also captured at least 50% of Yunakovka, a key staging area and logistics hub for Ukraine's campaign in the Kursk region last year.

Location of Andreevka village in Sumy region. Graphics: RYV

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the reports.

Russian military news outlets claim the Sumy operation has achieved its desired results. "Despite Ukraine's efforts to impede the operation, everyone understands that further Russian advances in the Sumy region are inevitable," reported War Gonzo, a military news outlet linked to Russian special forces.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine deployed elite special forces units from the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) earlier this month to stabilize the situation in Sumy.

GUR head Kyrylo Budanov believes Russia aimed to establish a buffer zone in the Sumy region but faced fierce resistance, leading them to deploy some of their most combat-ready units to the front.

"The Russian army has deployed its largest combined force in the Sumy offensive. Many of Russia's strongest units are present at this front, including the 104th Guards Air Assault Division, the 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade, the 40th Independent Naval Infantry Brigade, and the 155th [unit]", he said.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports that Russia is primarily using small, 4-5 man infantry detachments to attack in Sumy, with armored units yet to engage.

Stanislav Bunyatov, a soldier with the Ukrainian 24th Independent Assault Battalion, stated last month that Russian forces typically employ tactics of hunting down drone crews and forcing enemy infantry from defensive positions before deploying assault groups to seize the area.

Ukrainian tanks in Sumy region in August 2024. Photo: *Reuters*

Some Ukrainian soldiers acknowledge the high cost of defending Sumy. Many had hoped to establish a stronger defensive line during the approximately six months of the offensive in Russia's Kursk region.

However, after the chaotic retreat from Kursk, Ukrainian soldiers are defending from outdated trenches, vulnerable to drone attacks. Images on social media show heaps of dragon's teeth obstacles at staging points, instead of being deployed on access routes to Sumy.

According to Western military experts, the ground offensive and missile and drone strikes on Sumy are stretching Ukrainian forces thin across multiple fronts, adding to the pressure they face in Donbass and Kharkov.

Nguyen Tien (According to War Zone, RIA Novosti, AFP, AP)