Russia escalates attacks on Sumy border, aims to sever Ukrainian supply routes

The highest activity is observed in areas where Ukrainian forces are conducting operations in Kursk Oblast and near Novenke in Sumy Oblast, according to a spokesperson from Ukraine's State Border Guard Service.

“We’ve been tracking enemy attempts to break through our border on the left flank of this territory, aiming to either encircle our troops in Kursk Oblast or disrupt logistics, including cutting off supply routes,” the spokesperson said.

Since heavy equipment cannot be used for the assault, Russian forces are relying on small military groups. The spokesperson also rejected claims of Russian forces fully consolidating control in Novenke.

“Describing Novenke as a settlement is misleading — it’s a small area heavily damaged by enemy shelling. Russia continues to target the Sumy region, but reports of full enemy control in Novenke are inaccurate. Ukrainian forces are actively engaging Russian groups attempting to break through,” said Demchenko.

He also emphasized that the State Border Guard Service is responsible for specific defense zones and that local military authorities are taking necessary measures to prevent the conflict from spreading into Sumy Oblast.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed that Ukraine's military is focused on minimizing casualties while fulfilling its mission in Kursk Oblast.