Ukraine Retakes Villages in Sumy
Ukrainian forces liberate Stepne and Novokostiantynivka, adding to recent gains in the Sumy region.
Ukraine’s military says it has recaptured the villages of Stepne and Novokostiantynivka in the eastern Sumy region, marking incremental gains along the frontline ahead of this week’s Alaska summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It’s tough. But we are holding back the enemy,” said Ukraine’s top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior defence officials. “In the Sumy direction, we are conducting active operations and have some success advancing forward, liberating Ukrainian land.”
The recaptures follow Sunday’s announcement that Kyiv’s troops had retaken Bezsalivka. Reuters has not independently verified the reports.
On Monday, Trump reiterated his view that ending the war would require “some land swapping,” signalling potential pressure on Kyiv to accept border changes. Zelenskyy has rejected any deal involving ceding territory, citing constitutional prohibitions.
The Alaska talks are seen as a key test of whether Putin is willing to agree to a settlement or use the meeting to consolidate gains.
Russian Advances Elsewhere
While Ukraine makes small gains in Sumy, Russian forces continue to push westward along parts of the 1,000-km frontline, capturing new villages almost daily in Donetsk. Moscow’s offensive in Sumy follows Putin’s order to establish a “buffer zone,” threatening the regional capital.
According to Ukraine’s Deep State mapping project, Russia controls about 200 sq km of Sumy and a total of roughly 114,000 sq km of Ukrainian territory.