Ukrainian Governor Reports Russian Forces Seize Four Villages in Sumy Amid Ongoing Conflict

Authorities in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine announced late Monday that Russian troops had taken control of four villages as part of their strategy to establish a «buffer zone» near the Ukraine-Russia border.

Oleh Hryhorov, the governor of the Sumy region, shared on Facebook that the villages of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka had fallen under Russian control. He noted that the residents had been evacuated for their safety.

«The enemy continues its efforts to advance in order to create what they term a ‘buffer zone,'» Hryhorov stated.

He also mentioned that Ukrainian forces were maintaining oversight of the situation, delivering precise strikes against the enemy.

Hryhorov indicated that clashes were still ongoing around other nearby villages, such as Volodymyrivka and Bilovodiv. Earlier on Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry asserted that both villages were now under its control.

Additionally, Ukraine’s State Emergency Services reported that one individual was killed on Monday due to shelling by Russian forces in an area of the Sumy region located west of the four villages that were captured.

The Sumy region is situated across from Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces executed a significant cross-border operation last August. While Russia claims that Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from Kursk, Kyiv asserts that its forces remain active in the area.