**Russia Builds Up Forces on Ukraine’s Border**
In a worrying development, Russia has amassed enough troops in the Kursk Oblast region to potentially launch an attack on Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, according to State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko. This comes amid concerns of a new Russian offensive this summer, as peace efforts mediated by the United States have failed to produce a ceasefire deal.
Demchenko’s statement highlights Russia’s increasing activity in Sumy Oblast after pushing Ukrainian forces out of Kursk Oblast. Just recently, Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces had captured four villages close to the border: Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka. This development is particularly concerning, as it suggests a deliberate attempt by Russia to expand its control over Ukrainian territory.
**A New Offensive on the Horizon?**
The buildup of Russian forces in Kursk Oblast has been ongoing since Ukraine launched its operation there in August 2024. Despite periodic checks, Ukraine’s authorities have detected changes in the number of soldiers and equipment in the area. Demchenko warned that Russia now has enough forces to carry out operations against Ukraine’s border and potentially attack Ukrainian territory.
This warning is consistent with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier statement that Russia was accumulating 50,000 troops near Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast, seeking to create a 10-kilometer buffer zone in the area. Moscow has repeatedly hinted at plans to establish such a buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia.
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