Sumy region faces rising attacks after Kursk operation - Regional Administration
Volodymyr Artiukh, head of Sumy Regional Military Administration (Photo by RBC-Ukraine)
Volodymyr Artiukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, stated that Ukrainian forces conducted an offensive operation in Russia's Kursk region, which led to an increase in shelling of border areas in Ukraine's Sumy region.
According to Artiukh, the number of attacks from Russia increased in areas through which Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region.
"When Ukrainian troops entered the Kursk region, the number of Russian attacks increased. The number of artillery systems, machine guns, and small arms decreased because Russian troops were pushed back 20-30 kilometers from the border," Artiukh said.
He also noted that there has been a significant rise in airstrikes recently, with 30-40 guided bomb launches (KABs) per day.
"Last year these were isolated cases, now it is happening on a systematic basis. We record attacks on our critical infrastructure facilities and populated areas - private houses or high-rise buildings," the regional head said.
According to him, the purpose of such attacks is to demoralize the population and force them to leave their homes.
"And to create conditions by destroying life support systems - energy systems, water supply, mobile communications - under which it would be difficult for people to stay here," he emphasized.
The Kursk operation
Ukrainian Defense Forces continue active operations in border regions, including Russia’s Kursk region. The operation aims to weaken the enemy's logistical capabilities, destroy military infrastructure targets, and force Russia to divert resources from the frontlines to defend its own territory.
It is also worth noting that since the beginning of summer, Russia has intensified its shelling of the Sumy region in Ukraine. As a result, several settlements have been subject to mandatory evacuation orders.
According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, 183 settlements in the Sumy region are subject to prioritized evacuation.
