No threat: What's happening at Sumy region border

Was there breakthrough and what do local authorities and border guards say

Last night, the DeepState project updated the map, reporting on Russia's advance near a number of settlements. In particular, it was reported that the Russian troops moving near Plekhovo (Kursk region), where the Ukrainian operation continues, as well as the village of Oleksandriia, which is located on the border of Sumy region.

Photo: analysts have designated an area of 1.98 square kilometers as occupied in Sumy region (deepstatemap)

The analysts' information was immediately disseminated online, calling it a breakthrough by the Russians in the region. The Sumy Regional Military Administration responded to this. They claim that the information about Russians breaking through the border in the Sumy region is fake.

“The reports about the border crossing, which are spread in the media, are Russian disinformation that does not correspond to reality. Currently, there is no information from the military about changes in the situation at the border, the situation is under control,” said Volodymyr Artiukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration.

He urged citizens to trust only official sources of information and not to fall for the Russian manipulations, which are trying to undermine the situation in the Sumy region.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine also stated that the information about Russia's breakthrough into the Sumy region is not true. According to the spokesperson Andrii Demchenko on the Kyiv 24 TV channel, no attempts to enter or combat Russian actions in the above-mentioned area have been recorded so far.

He explained that the area is also swampy, which makes it difficult for the Russians to gain a foothold or develop an offensive. Instead, he said, Russian troops are trying to act in another direction - in the Kursk region - to force Ukrainian forces out of their positions.

No threat of Russian troops invading Sumy region

Military expert and reserve major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksii Hetman said in a commentary to RBC-Ukraine that there is no need to talk about threats to the Sumy region now. He noted that to avoid this threat, Ukraine launched offensive actions in the Kursk region, among other things.

“I can even assume that DeepState is unlikely to be wrong. They are quite correct in their conclusions and what they depict on the map. Perhaps it was some attempts by some sabotage groups to get in. This is something so insignificant,” said Hetman.

According to him, one should not assume that some troops have entered the area and that there are any serious hostilities.

“Our General Staff does not lie when it gives official reports. Sometimes there are some inaccuracies. I have seen two of them in three years. We have no right to deliberately tell lies. After all, the entire civilized world is watching us and analyzing all our actions,” says Hetman.

The expert does not rule out that the area currently marked by analysts in red on the map may become a gray zone by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Sumy region has been constantly suffering from Russian shelling and Russian subversive reconnaissance groups during the full-scale war. Russian occupiers are actively attacking the region with artillery and aircraft.

Volodymyr Artiukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, recently told in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, that the operation in the Kursk region, which borders the Sumy region, has achieved its goal.

Sources: DeepState project, Sumy Regional Military Administration Volodymyr Artiukh and the spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Andrii Demchenko, as well as an exclusive commentary by military expert, Major in the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksii Hetman.