Russia has 50,000 soldiers ready for attack on Sumy border region

Russia has gathered 50,000 troops near Ukraine's northeastern Sumy border region, according to Ukrainian President Zelensky. The president stated that Russia aims to create a 10-kilometer-deep buffer zone in the area.

'They are now assembling troops towards Sumy,' Zelensky said, adding that Moscow is concentrating 'its best troops' in the neighboring Kursk region. 'Their strongest and most concentrated forces are currently in the Kursk area. Their goal is to push our troops away and prepare for offensive actions in Sumy Oblast—to create what they call a 10-kilometer-deep buffer zone within Ukraine. I believe they understand they lack the capacity to achieve this.'

Russia has become increasingly active in the Sumy region after driving Ukrainian forces out of Kursk. Ukrainian authorities recently confirmed that Russian troops have taken control of four villages near the border: Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka. Observers note that the troop buildup aligns with Russia's slow rollout of its summer offensive.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to create 'security buffer zones' along the border. 'Enemy firing points are being actively suppressed; the work is in full swing,' he said. The buffer zones would provide 'additional support' to Russian regions bordering Ukraine's Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts.