Russia is amassing 50,000 troops at the border with Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, in what he claims is a bid by Moscow to create a 10-kilometre buffer zone in the area.
"Now, they are accumulating troops in the direction of Sumy, over 50,000. We understand, but have had success there," Zelensky said on Wednesday, adding that Russia is also concentrating its "best troops" in the neighbouring Kursk region.
Moscow has intensified its military efforts towards Ukraine’s Sumy region in the past few weeks.
Kyiv confirmed that Moscow forces managed to capture four villages close to the region's border with Russia. The Sumy regional governor stated that the residents of these settlements had been evacuated long ago, and "there is no threat to civilians."
Around 56,000 civilians had been evacuated from the region amid escalating Russian aggression and daily attacks and shelling, Oleh Hryhorov announced.
Kharkiv also in Moscow's sights
Kyiv repeatedly said that Russia planned to launch an offensive into the Sumy region as early as 2024, but the plan was disrupted by Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.
Recently, the Ukrainian military also warned that Russia may be preparing new attacks on Kharkiv as Moscow gathered its troops close to the border with the region.
Andrii Pomahaibus, the chief of staff of Ukraine's 13th National Guard Khartiia Brigade, said Russia is trying to move the troops closer to the contact line, but has so far failed to carry out attacks.
Moscow has repeatedly indicated plans to create a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia in the area.
Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his government, saying, "A decision has been made to establish a necessary security buffer zone. Our armed forces are currently carrying out this task."
His remarks came after regional officials in Russia’s Kursk region urged stronger border measures. Putin noted the zone would be along the Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, which border Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions.
Russian military mobilisation continues
Russia is now preparing for a new offensive, possibly over the summer, the Ukrainian military has said. The fighting has intensified along all of Ukraine’s frontlines, stretching for over 1,000 kilometres across multiple regions of the country.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Russia mobilises around 40,000 to 45,000 men for its military every month, while Ukraine mobilises about 25,000 to 27,000.
Ukraine’s president said it is yet another indicator of Moscow intensifying its war efforts despite numerous calls from Kyiv, Brussels and Washington to agree to an unconditional ceasefire as a first step toward a peace deal.
"When the US sends signals that it wants to do something positive with Russia, then Russia ramps up its mobilisation," Zelenskyy said.
On Monday, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has already lost almost 1 million troops in its ongoing all-out war against Ukraine.
US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said that Washington’s estimates suggest that total casualties on both sides since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have exceeded 1 million people.
