Russia has declared a cross-border offensive that has seized territory in Ukraine’s Sumy region for the first time since 2022, as Ukraine strives to maintain its hold on land in the neighboring Kursk region of Russia.
The Russian defense ministry also reported that its forces had reclaimed three more villages that had fallen to Ukraine in the Kursk border region, where Ukraine’s troops have recently lost ground.
A statement from the ministry mentioned they had regained control over the villages of Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, and Kositsa, having already reported previous gains in the Russian region earlier this weekend.
Ukraine aims to leverage the territory it controls in Kursk as a potential negotiating tool in any peace discussions.
The United States has restricted Ukraine’s access to intelligence sharing and satellite information to compel it to negotiate.
The Russian defense ministry stated in a briefing that its forces, in a counter-offensive, had “liberated” the small village of Novenke in Sumy, close to the Kursk border.
Russia briefly occupied parts of Sumy at the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022 but has not taken any territory there since.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in mid-February that his forces had entered this area of northeastern Ukraine, a statement called a “lie” by Ukraine, though the country has acknowledged isolated attacks.
Novenke is situated about a kilometer from Kursk, and Russian military bloggers noted that its capture brought troops closer to obstructing a major supply route for Ukraine.
Ukraine has not yet responded to Russia’s assertion of capturing Novenke.
A Russian assault struck the center of Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region last night, resulting in 11 fatalities and 40 injuries.
Ukraine denies reports of a ‘massive breakthrough’ by Russia.
Yesterday, Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation refuted claims of a “massive breakthrough” by Russia, stating that its forces were eliminating small groups attempting to cross the border.
Russia announced the recapture of the village of Lebedevka in Kursk, bringing its troops closer to regaining control of the Ukrainian-held town of Sudzha, located approximately 10 kilometers away.
Ukraine launched its incursion into Kursk last August, acquiring territory to establish a buffer zone.
However, Russia has reclaimed over two-thirds of that territory since then.
A Russian army commander, Apti Alaudinov, indicated on Telegram yesterday that “all units have initiated a large-scale offensive across all sectors of the Kursk front.”
Russian military blogger Yevgeny Poddubny stated that the Kursk incursion “is in its final phase.”
Prominent Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov mentioned on Sunday that retaining the Kursk territory is no longer tactically justified.
Yesterday, a Russian assault struck the center of Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region last night, resulting in 11 deaths and 40 injuries, according to emergency services.
Ukraine confirms Russia utilized a gas pipeline to reach the town.
Ukraine’s General Staff verified reports that Russian special forces had employed an underground gas pipeline to approach the outskirts of Sudzha, the main town controlled by Ukraine in the region.
Ukraine stated that its aerial reconnaissance had identified the troops, who were “being detected, blocked, and eliminated.”
Russian military bloggers reported that troops maneuvered approximately 15 kilometers through a pipeline with a diameter of 1.4 meters.
They praised the assault as a remarkable achievement, asserting that the troops met their objective, with ongoing fighting in Sudzha.
Russia supplied gas to Europe via Ukraine until January of this year, and Sudzha served as a hub for transferring and measuring gas.
Russia also proclaimed the capture of another village in eastern Ukraine.
Its troops are advancing in the Donetsk region and are nearing a symbolic border into the central Dnipropetrovsk region, which has been free from fighting thus far.
The defense ministry reported that troops had taken over the village of Kostyantynopil, situated around 13 kilometers from the regional boundary and 50 kilometers west of the major Russian-held city of Donetsk.
Russia’s advances occur amid a growing prospect of peace negotiations, with Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators scheduled to meet next week in Saudi Arabia.
U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff stated that his team intends “to establish a framework for a peace agreement along with an initial ceasefire” during the talks set for Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that Ukraine is “fully committed to constructive dialogue,” while emphasizing the need for its interests to be “considered appropriately.”
