On May 26, Sumy Oblast Governor Oleh Hryhorov announced that Russian forces had taken control of four settlements along the northeastern border: Novenke, Zhuravka, Veselivka, and Basivka. These villages, located near the Russian frontier, were previously categorized as part of a "gray zone"—areas of contested military control.

Hryhorov confirmed that all civilians had been evacuated earlier, noting there is “no threat to residents.” However, the seizure signals a concerning shift in the northern front’s dynamics.

Hryhorov stated that Russian operations in Sumy Oblast appear aimed at establishing a “so-called buffer zone.” This aligns with President Vladimir Putin’s May 22 comments, in which he claimed that Moscow was working to secure such zones along the border.

Clashes are still ongoing near Vodolahy, Yunakivka, and Khotin, where Ukrainian defense forces are reported to be using precision strikes to repel advances.

This new territorial gain comes amid Ukraine’s warnings of a renewed Russian offensive. Less than a week earlier, nearly 56,000 residents had been evacuated from the region. Ukrainian intelligence has observed growing Russian deployments across northeastern fronts, as well as assaults aimed at stretching Ukrainian defensive lines.

While the Kremlin frames its actions as strategic stabilization, Ukraine sees them as another step in Russia’s broader campaign to redraw borders and test NATO’s eastern flank indirectly.