Ukraine Repels Russian Push, Fortifies Sumy Borderline

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Thursday, June 26th, 2025

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rki.news
KYIV, June 26, Ukrainian forces have successfully halted the Russian advance in the northeastern Sumy region, according to army chief Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who declared the front lines “stabilised” during a field visit on Thursday.
Syrskyi said the Russian summer offensive had been “choked off,” but stressed the urgent need for more fortifications in the area. “Additional fortifications, ‘kill zones,’ anti-drone corridors, and secure logistics are essential tasks already underway,” he stated, adding that improvements must be carried out more efficiently.
Sumy, bordering Russia’s Kursk region, has faced mounting pressure since Moscow announced in April the creation of “security buffer zones” along its border with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently warned of 50,000 Russian troops massed near Sumy aiming to create a 10km buffer zone.
Despite recent successes, Syrskyi’s comments follow growing public concern over inadequate fortifications. Analysts from DeepState reported active combat in unfortified zones, highlighting delays and poor construction quality in some defensive positions.
Russian missile attacks have intensified, including a deadly strike on April 13 that killed 34 people and injured 117 in Sumy. While President Putin said Russia does not aim to capture Sumy outright, he did not rule it out, claiming Russian troops have created an 8–12 km buffer zone.
On the international front, NATO allies have pledged €35 billion in support. However, concerns linger in Kyiv over U.S. policy under President Trump. Following a recent meeting with Zelensky, Trump hinted at supplying Ukraine with U.S. Patriot missile systems, stating: “We’re going to see if we could make some available.”