In a significant development, authorities in Ukraine’s Sumy region, which borders Russia, have mandated the evacuation of 11 villages in response to ongoing bombardments. This decision reflects intense concerns about civilian safety amidst fears of a potential Russian offensive.
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The Sumy administration stated, “This decision takes into account the constant threat to civilian lives due to the bombardments affecting border communities.”
In parallel, Russia’s defense ministry has confirmed its forces have captured another village in the Sumy region—Vodolagy, also known as Vodolahy in Ukrainian. Recent weeks have seen Russia claim control over several villages in northeastern Ukraine, which has raised alarms within Ukraine’s leadership. President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the seriousness of the situation, reporting that Moscow is amassing over 50,000 soldiers in the area, indicating a possible new offensive.
President Zelensky remarked, “The Russian troop buildup began when their forces engaged Ukrainian soldiers who had entered the Kursk region last year.” This escalation comes as Russia has nearly regained control of Kursk, which had been a focal point of conflict.
Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia now controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. The ongoing conflict has resulted in substantial casualties, with tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians affected on both sides.
Meanwhile, Washington continues to spearhead diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire. However, both Kyiv and Moscow are pointing fingers at each other for the lack of progress towards peace. The Kremlin has proposed further negotiations in Istanbul, following a previous round of talks on May 16 that led to limited results, primarily a large prisoner-of-war exchange.
As of now, Kyiv has yet to confirm its attendance at the upcoming Istanbul meeting, maintaining that Russia must first reconsider its stance against an immediate truce.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
