Russian military operations have intensified along Ukraine’s northeastern border, where Moscow is reportedly aiming to establish a 10-kilometer-deep buffer zone in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 28, approximately 50,000 Russian troops have been deployed for this purpose. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that a total of 125,000 Russian personnel are operating in the two areas.
Fighting escalated in Sumy in April 2025, with Russian forces capturing several villages, including Basovka, Zhuravka, Novenkoye, and Veselovka. Local authorities have since confirmed the evacuation of more than 52,000 civilians, with plans to relocate up to 86,000 residents from 202 settlements. In Kharkiv, the front lines near Liptsy and Volchansk have remained largely static over the past year. While clashes continue, Ukrainian forces report no major changes and do not anticipate a large-scale summer offensive given the current force composition.
Reports indicate that Russian gains remain shallow and are unlikely to offer meaningful protection from Ukrainian drones and artillery. Analysts suggest the border operations may serve to fix Ukrainian troops in place and prevent their redeployment to more strategic areas, such as Donetsk. Russian objectives for the summer campaign are thought to include southern targets like Pokrovsk, Konstantinovka, and potentially Kramatorsk.
Ukrainian cross-border incursions into Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod Oblasts in 2024 and early 2025, have heightened Moscow’s focus on securing its frontier. The proposed buffer zone may be, in part, a response to these operations, aimed at creating a protective barrier against future Ukrainian attacks into Russian territory.