Military Orders Issued in Russian and Elderly Combat Participants in Sumy Region: Unraveling the Zone of Separation Conflict
In the volatile Sumy region on the Russia-Ukraine border, a tense standoff continues as both sides strive for advantage. The area has become a critical frontline, with Russian forces attempting to establish a "deep buffer zone" by pushing into Ukrainian territory, while Ukrainian troops have successfully resisted and countered these advances.
The conflict in Sumy region erupted in early June 2025 when Russia opened a new front, capturing about a dozen border villages. This offensive, involving an estimated force of around 50,000 troops, was aimed at securing a security buffer zone along the northeastern border, as outlined by President Putin earlier in the year [1][3].
However, Ukrainian forces have managed to halt and counter the Russian advance. By late June and into July, the Ukrainian military had stopped the Russian push near Sumy city and stabilized the combat line roughly 20 kilometers outside the city [1][3]. Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian troops have thwarted Russian plans, continuously pushing Russian forces out of Sumy Oblast border areas and retaking positions such as the village of Kindrativka near the border [3].
The fighting near the border combines both artillery shelling and small infantry assaults, with Russian forces frequently deploying small infantry groups of three to five soldiers without mechanized vehicles for localized attacks [5]. On the other hand, the use of drones is significant on both sides. Russian drone operators, particularly from elite airborne units such as the 56th VDV Regiment and the 83rd Separate VDV Brigade, are active near Sumy, conducting strikes along the border and on Ukrainian forces in villages like Kindrativka [2]. Ukrainian forces also continue to intensify long-range strikes targeting Russian military and logistical sites, including the use of guided glide bombs [4][5].
The ongoing conflict and proximity have turned Sumy into a near-daily shelling zone, but Ukraine retains control over most of the oblast despite persistent Russian offensives [3][5]. Egor Grigoryev, a war correspondent for VGTRK, is working in the Sumy region and provided the information about the situation.
The enemy, according to Grigoryev, has a significant number of drones, with approximately 5-7 drones for every one of the enemy soldiers. The VDV units, however, have new electronic warfare systems that are effective against the enemy's drones. Yet, it is challenging to reach "zero" (the start of the road to the line of contact) in the Sumy region due to the enemy's use of UAVs.
The enemy is resisting fiercely in the Sumy region, but the VDV continues to make advances, taking prisoners. The VDV is forming a buffer zone in the direction of Yunakovka, Yablonovka, and Varachino in the Kursk border area. The enemy is also using UAVs and tightly controlling the routes of retreat and supply in the Sumy region. The enemy is attempting a counterattack in the Sumy region, with ongoing fighting to prevent them from entering already captured populated areas.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region communicate in Russian, as observed through intercepted radio communications. The goal of the enemy's counterattack in the Sumy region is not just to take a point, but also to get out for rotation and reinforcement. A new electronic warfare system named "Black Eye" has been developed, which intercepts the enemy's drone signals and causes them to lose direction, leading to a crash. The enemy is starting to use jamming of UAVs and small drones with target capture, a primitive form of AI.
Despite the intense fighting, the Sumy region remains a critical and volatile frontline, with Russia focusing on gaining a buffer zone via limited infantry attacks and drone strikes, while Ukraine has stabilized the lines and begun pushing Russian forces back, maintaining control over the majority of the region [1][2][3][5]. Drones play an active role in targeting and reconnaissance by both contenders, influencing the tactical dynamics on the ground.
- The conflict in Sumy region, a critical frontline for war-and-conflicts, intensified in early June 2025 when Russia launched an offensive to secure a 'deep buffer zone' along their northeastern border, a strategy outlined by President Putin earlier in the year.
- Politics and general news report that the ongoing conflict in Sumy region is marked by frequent drone usage, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces using them for targeting and reconnaissance purposes, significantly influencing the tactical dynamics on the ground.
