In March 2025, as Ukrainian forces made their final retreat from Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, new grey spots began to appear on open-source maps on the other side of the state border, in Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast. For the first time since 2022, when Moscow’s forces retreated
"Both teams are working to ensure we meet," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Key developments on June 13: * Ukrainian MiG-29 strikes Russian drone hub, ammo depot in Zaporizhzhia direction, releases video * Ukrainian military denies NYT claims about Russian presence in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast * Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns * Ukraine repatriates bodies of 1,200 citizens, soldiers under Istanbul deal
"Our units in Sumy Oblast are gradually pushing back the occupiers. Thank you to each of our soldiers, sergeants, and officers for this result," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected claims of Russian advance as "a Russian narrative," insisting that Ukraine's forces have been holding off a renewed offensive for nearly three weeks.
There are currently no plans for mass civilian evacuations from the city of Sumy, regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on June 8, as Russian advances into Sumy Oblast have continued to gain momentum.
Despite Russia's claims of an intrusion into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Major Andrii Kovalev, a spokesperson for Ukraine's General Staff denied Russian troop presence in the region.
"Unfortunately, they are not speaking about peace. They are preparing for war," President Volodymyr Zelensky's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa said.
U.S. experts believe President Vladimir Putin remains convinced that a military victory is still possible, although continued sanctions and battlefield losses have strained Russia's capabilities, according to the Washington Post.
Russian forces control the Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka communities, Governor Oleh Hryhorov said. "Residents of these villages were evacuated long ago, and there is no threat to civilians."
"There is no evidence that (the Russians) are seriously considering peace...On the contrary, there is a lot of evidence that they are preparing new offensive operations."
Update: Browse the briefing presentation here. KI Insights subscribers can also access the recording. As Ukraine braces for an intensified Russian offensive, KI Insights invites you to an exclusive off-the-record briefing on the latest battlefield dynamics, military challenges, and Kyiv's evolving strategic outlook. Drawing from sources spanning the trenches of
Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, called the online claims "fake" and said that the accompanying photograph allegedly showing Russian troops in the area was also fabricated.
In this week’s episode, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur breaks down the back-and-forth developments surrounding peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. As negotiations stall, the battle rages on in multiple sectors of the front.
The extension of the current defense plan, initially set for 2021–2025, was confirmed by the Kremlin, though specific details remain classified.
Key developments on May 14: * Trump says he's unsure whether Putin will attend Ukraine peace talks in Turkey as Kremlin stays silent * Russia likely preparing major offensive in Ukraine despite peace efforts, FT reports * Trump needs to understand that Putin lies, blocks peace efforts, Zelensky says * EU agrees on 17th
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a major industrial and logistical hub, remains untouched by ground incursions but is under growing threat.
Despite the Kremlin’s announcement of a May 8–11 truce, heavy fighting continued in multiple regions throughout the day.
Key developments on April 29: * Putin's Victory Day truce proposal 'is start of direct negotiations' with Ukraine, Lavrov says * Russia intensifies offensive operations in 3 regions, pushes toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's military says * Ukrainian drones reportedly target Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod oblasts in Russia * Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's eastern villages evacuating families as
Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations in three Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, Vladyslav Voloshyn, said on April 29 during Ukraine's state-run telethon.
Training footage indicates that Russia may be developing "a tactical doctrine for systematic offensive motorcycle usage," the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said on April 26.
"This so-called truce did more damage to us," Anastasiia Blyshchyk, spokesperson for Ukraine's 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said.
Russian troops are solidifying their presence in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast as they prepare for an advance toward Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState reported on April 18.
Roughly 5,000 North Korean soldiers have already been killed or injured, but 6,000 remain in Russia's Kursk Oblast and are likely to be used in new assaults, Ukrainian intelligence said.
In an official statement from April 12, "Khortytsia" reported that although no offensive actions were carried out by Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction over the last day, Russians are actively replenishing their units and getting ready to resume offensive operations in the region.
"There are a lot of attempts there, daily. They (Russia) are bearing losses... There will be more attempts in the Kharkiv and Sumy directions," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Combat data analyzed by CNN confirms a surge in Russian activity across the front line over the past two weeks.
For nearly a week, Russian offensive operations have almost doubled in all main sectors, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
Despite the slowdown, Russian forces continue offensive operations, particularly in Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk sector, where fighting intensified at the end of March.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukraine's main tasks are holding defensive lines and stabilizing threats, which have been partially achieved, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction.
Russia is likely preparing to launch a new offensive in the coming weeks to strengthen its position in possible peace talks with Ukraine, the Associated Press (AP) reported on March 29, citing Ukrainian analysts and two undisclosed G7 diplomatic sources.
"The Russians want to get as much of a head start or advance as much as possible in Zaporizhzhia Oblast," Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said.
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