Russian troops try to advance in Ukraine s Sumy region governor says

KYIV - Russian troops are trying to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraines northeastern Sumy region, although so far without substantial success, the regional governor said on April 29.

The Sumy region borders on Russias Kursk region, where Russian forces have lately recaptured territory seized in 2024 in the Ukrainian militarys only major cross-border incursion of the war.

Kyiv has said for months that it is concerned about Moscows troops trying to advance into Sumy. Russia has said its forces have captured some territory there and have driven all Ukrainian troops out of Kursk.

Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on the Telegram app that four border villages in Sumy - Zhuravka, Veselivka, Basivka and Novenke - were in a grey zone due to Russian attacks, but were not under Russian control.

Currently, the enemy continues to try to carve out a buffer zone on the territory of our region, but has not had any significant success, Mr Hryhorov said.

Of the four villages, he said there is no question of their occupation at the moment.

Russias defence ministry said earlier in April that its forces had captured Zhuravka and Basivka, which Kyiv denied.

DeepState, an open source map compiled from observations of the battlefield, says about 52 sq km of the Sumy region are in a contested grey zone. REUTERS

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