Russian forces advance in Sumy region, threaten city with drones
Russian forces have seized control of the villages of Andriyivka and Vodolahy in Ukraine’s Sumy region, according to reports from the DeepState monitoring project. Troop movements also indicate an advance toward Yablunivka, located in the northern part of the region near the Russian border.
What do you need to know?
- Russian troops have occupied two villages in the Sumy region in northeastern Ukraine.
- The situation in the region is critical as Russian forces are now within 12-15 miles of Sumy, allowing them to threaten the city with FPV drones.
- The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) does not confirm the full occupation of Andriyivka and Yablunivka but acknowledges the advances of Russian troops in the Sumy region.
What are the latest reports from the Sumy region?
Russian forces have occupied the villages of Andriyivka and Vodolahy in Ukraine’s Sumy region, according to confirmation from the Ukrainian analytical project DeepState. In a statement released on Telegram, analysts attributed the Russian advance primarily to the overwhelming number of infantry troops deployed in the area.
"The enemy’s offensive in the Sumy region is ongoing. Russian forces have managed to seize control of Andriyivka and Vodolahy, establishing footholds in both villages. Their success stems from the sheer volume of infantry, which advances relentlessly, creeping forward like cockroaches," the statement from DeepState read.
Do the Russians threaten the city of Sumy?
"Currently, the situation in Kindrativka, where Russian infantry has been spotted, is being assessed, but the Defense Forces are actively working there to prevent the enemy from gaining a foothold. (...) The Yablunivka-Junakivka section is also under enemy pressure," added DeepState.
The maps from this analytical project show that the area controlled by the Russian army in the northern part of the Sumy region has expanded to 60 square miles, with another 19 square miles marked as an area of unspecified control, also known as a "gray zone."
"The situation remains critical due to the rapid movement of the enemy to within 12-15 miles of Sumy, from which they can threaten the city using fiber optic FPV drones. Russians have already made similar attempts," emphasized DeepState.
What are the international reactions to the situation in the Sumy region?
The U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has not confirmed the occupation of Andriyivka and Yablunivka, instead classifying them as localities within a zone of contested control. However, the ISW does acknowledge ongoing Russian advances and notes that Moscow’s forces have made limited territorial gains in the Sumy region.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian media, citing military analysts, reported that Russian forces had taken control of the village of Kostiantynivka, located near the border in the Sumy region. While the advance signals continued pressure in the area, analysts emphasized that Russian troops currently lack the resources required to launch a full-scale assault on the city of Sumy itself.
