Russia Claims Capture of Yablunivka in Sumy Amid Ukraine Conflict
Russian forces have announced the capture of Yablunivka, a village in Ukraine's Sumy region, following intensified military operations. This move is part of Russia's stated aim to establish a 'buffer zone' within Ukrainian territory, according to President Putin. Yablunivka is located approximately 9 km from the Russian border.
This advance occurs against a backdrop of rejected ceasefire calls from the Kremlin, which has instead conditioned peace talks on Ukraine relinquishing Western military support, abandoning NATO aspirations, and ceding further territory. While Russian forces appear to be near Sumy, Ukraine previously pushed them out of the region in a counter-offensive three years prior. Sumy is located 200 miles northeast of Kyiv.
Earlier this year, Kyiv launched an armed incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, utilizing the Sumy region as a staging area. In response to this, Putin ordered a renewed cross-border offensive. Additionally, Russia has claimed to have seized two villages in the Donetsk region.