Ukrainian forces push Russian troops further from Sumy – General Staff
Photo: Defense forces push Russian troops further away from Sumy (Getty Images)
In the border areas of the Sumy region, Ukrainian defenders have managed to advance near Oleksiivka, pushing the enemy further away from Sumy, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As the General Staff reported, Russian troops continue active operations in the Northern-Slobozhanskyi direction, persistently attempting to assault Ukrainian positions in the border regions of the Sumy region.
However, the situation has been stabilized — Ukrainian defenders halted the enemy’s advance along a designated defensive line.
In particular, the enemy was stopped along the line of the settlements Yunakivka – Yablunivka – Novomykolaivka – Oleksiivka – Kindrativka, up to the border with the Russian Federation, including the enemy's bridgehead in the Glushkovo district of the Kursk region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding the line in these areas while also preparing for counteroffensive actions. Initial successes have already been recorded: Ukrainian forces have liberated the settlement of Andriivka and have also advanced in the area of Oleksiivka, pushing Russian forces farther from Sumy. This not only strengthened defensive positions but also laid the groundwork for further expulsion of the Russian forces from the border regions.
According to the General Staff, Russia has deployed its most well-trained units to the Northern-Slobozhanskyi direction, including naval infantry, airborne assault, and motorized rifle brigades. The enemy is actively using long-range artillery, aviation, and attack drones. The Russian troops are not only attacking Ukrainian positions near the border in the Sumy region but are also attempting to dislodge the Defense Forces from areas in Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions, where Ukrainian forces are conducting combat operations.
Despite this, Ukrainian defenders are inflicting significant losses on the enemy. In June 2025 alone, over 9,300 Russian troops were eliminated in the Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions: at least 4,470 were killed, around 4,800 were wounded, and 42 were taken prisoner.
In June, 423 units of Russian military equipment were also destroyed, including 6 tanks, 20 armored vehicles, 89 artillery systems and MLRS, and 3 air defense systems.
Ukrainian Defense Forces are striking enemy targets up to 100 km deep, including inside Russian territory. In June, the following targets were destroyed:
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16 command posts,
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8 command and observation posts,
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6 personnel concentration areas,
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ammunition, drone, and fuel depots,
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2 repair bases, a logistics base, and an oil depot.
Since the beginning of the Kursk operation in August 2024, Russian losses in this direction have exceeded 75,860 personnel, of whom over 1,000 were taken prisoner. More than 2,800 pieces of equipment have also been destroyed, including 99 tanks, 709 armored vehicles, and 322 artillery systems.
Russian offensive in Sumy region
On June 24, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported a significant decrease in combat activity by Russian forces in the Sumy direction. Earlier, however, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed he had not tasked his troops with occupying Sumy, though he "did not rule out" such a scenario.
According to DeepState, over the past month, the Russian troops have significantly expanded their control in the border areas of the Sumy region. Analysts also suggested that the Russians may have occupied the village of Loknia.
Recently, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that the Defense Forces have halted the enemy's advance in the Sumy region, and this year’s wave of attempted summer offensives by the enemy from Russian territory is faltering.
