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Ukrainian Forces Stabilize Defense in Sumy Amidst Russian Advances, Syrskyi Reports
Advances by Russian forces in the border areas of the Sumy region have been halted and the combat line stabilized, as Ukrainian units consolidate defenses and conduct targeted countermeasures on key axes, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on June 26 on his official Telegram channel.
Syrskyi noted that “defense of Sumy is one of our primary tasks today,” and that this year’s wave of Russia’s so-called summer offensive is faltering much like last year’s attempt in the Kharkiv region, thanks to decisions made in May and June that are already yielding results.
He confirmed that Russian advances into the Sumy borderlands have been stopped and the line of contact stabilized this week. “In designated sectors, Ukrainian units are successfully employing active defense tactics and liberating Ukrainian land,” he added.
On the Northern Slobozhanske and Kursk axes, Ukrainian forces have once again pinned down around 50,000 Russian personnel—including elite airborne and naval infantry brigades—and their operations in the Hlushkiv district of Russia’s Kursk region forced the enemy to divert troops to defend its own territory, significantly reducing its main grouping facing Sumy.
Within the North Slobozhanske command, Syrskyi has established a special task force to oversee the defense of Sumy region and communities. Its first initiatives include strengthening existing fortifications, expanding engineering barriers, and organizing anti-drone corridors and “kill zones.” He appointed dedicated officers to ensure settlements are prepared and defensive systems remain effective.
Syrskyi then thanked all defenders of the Sumy region, awarding the most distinguished soldiers with Commander-in-Chief’s honors, and concluded, “We need tangible results in destroying the invader. Together we will endure, together we will win. Glory to Ukraine!”.
Earlier, a Russian Lancet drone guided by a reconnaissance UAV struck a civilian evacuation bus near Bilopillia in the Sumy region, killing nine people—including elderly women—and wounding at least four others, according to local authorities. The bus was en route to safety at dawn.
