Russia gathers 50,000 troops at Ukrainian border near Sumy, Zelenskyy says

Russia is amassing 50,000 troops astatine nan separator pinch Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, successful what he claims is simply a bid by Moscow to create a 10-kilometre buffer area successful nan area. 

"Now, they are accumulating troops successful nan guidance of Sumy, complete 50,000. We understand, but person had occurrence there," Zelensky said connected Wednesday, adding that Russia is besides concentrating its "best troops" successful nan neighbouring Kursk region. 

Moscow has intensified its subject efforts towards Ukraine’s Sumy region successful nan past fewer weeks.

Kyiv confirmed that Moscow forces managed to seizure 4 villages adjacent to nan region's separator pinch Russia. The Sumy location politician stated that nan residents of these settlements had been evacuated agelong ago, and "there is nary threat to civilians."

Around 56,000 civilians had been evacuated from nan region amid escalating Russian aggression and regular attacks and shelling, Oleh Hryhorov announced. 

Kharkiv besides successful Moscow's sights

Kyiv many times said that Russia planned to motorboat an violative into nan Sumy region arsenic early arsenic 2024, but nan scheme was disrupted by Ukraine's incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.

Recently, nan Ukrainian subject besides warned that Russia whitethorn beryllium preparing caller attacks connected Kharkiv arsenic Moscow gathered its troops adjacent to nan separator pinch nan region.

Andrii Pomahaibus, nan main of unit of Ukraine's 13th National Guard Khartiia Brigade, said Russia is trying to move nan troops person to nan interaction line, but has truthful acold grounded to transportation retired attacks.

Moscow has many times indicated plans to create a buffer area betwixt Ukraine and Russia successful nan area.

Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed his government, saying, "A determination has been made to found a basal information buffer zone. Our equipped forces are presently carrying retired this task."

His remarks came aft location officials successful Russia’s Kursk region urged stronger separator measures. Putin noted nan area would beryllium on nan Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk regions, which separator Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions. 

Russian subject mobilisation continues

Russia is now preparing for a caller offensive, perchance complete nan summer, nan Ukrainian subject has said. The fighting has intensified on each of Ukraine’s frontlines, stretching for complete 1,000 kilometres crossed aggregate regions of nan country. 

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said Russia mobilises astir 40,000 to 45,000 men for its subject each month, while Ukraine mobilises astir 25,000 to 27,000. 

Ukraine’s president said it is yet different parameter of Moscow intensifying its warfare efforts contempt galore calls from Kyiv, Brussels and Washington to work together to an unconditional ceasefire arsenic a first measurement toward a bid deal.

"When nan US sends signals that it wants to do thing affirmative pinch Russia, past Russia ramps up its mobilisation," Zelenskyy said.

On Monday, nan General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported that Russia has already mislaid almost 1 cardinal troops successful its ongoing all-out warfare against Ukraine. 

US typical envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said that Washington’s estimates propose that full casualties connected some sides since Russia’s full-scale penetration of Ukraine person exceeded 1 cardinal people.