Putin’s ‘Buffer Zone’? Russia Makes New Gains in Northeast Ukraine

Key Points – Russian forces have seized control of four villages (Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, Zhuravka) in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, an area under Ukrainian control since 2022, marking a notable, albeit limited, advance.

-This push aligns with President Putin’s stated goal of creating a “buffer zone.”

-Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned on May 26th that Russia is not serious about peace and is preparing new offensive operations, a concern underscored by intensified Russian airstrikes and drone assaults.

-This development occurs as the broader battlefield has stagnated, and Ukraine remains heavily reliant on Western aid to sustain its defense.

Russia Pushes Forward in Ukraine’s Northeast

Russia has seized control of four villages in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, marking a notable if limited advance in a part of the country that had been under Ukrainian control since 2022. The push has been confirmed by both Ukrainian authorities and intelligence. It highlights Moscow’s renewed momentum and strategic interest in establishing what President Vladimir Putin has called a “buffer zone” along the border.

Russia Captures Strategic Villages, Civilians Evacuated

The villages of Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka have fallen under Russian control, according to Oleh Hryhorov, head of Sumy’s regional military administration. Civilians had already been evacuated, Hryhorov said, but clashes are now ongoing in five additional villages nearby.

“The enemy continues attempts to progress,” Hryhorov stated, echoing growing concern in Kyiv that Russia is using its recent gains to lay the groundwork for future operations.

Kyiv: Putin Doesn’t Want Peace in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a stark message in his Monday evening address: “We can see from the information obtained by intelligence that Putin and his entourage do not plan to end the war.” He added that there is “ample evidence” Russia is preparing new offensives, underlining the Kremlin’s apparent disinterest in diplomatic resolution.

This assessment, while rather grim, aligns with a broader trend. In recent weeks the scale of Russian airstrikes, drone assaults, and renewed attempts to breach Ukrainian lines have ramped up. Moscow’s tactics may not always yield large territorial gains, but they continue to serve a strategic purpose: wearing down Ukraine’s exhausted defenses and pressuring Western patience.

Stagnation on the Ground

Kyiv, meanwhile, faces another growing challenge. Last year’s spate of counter offensives recaptured significant territory, but the battlefield has since stagnated. With Russia ramping up pressure in the northeast, Ukraine is once again forced into reactive defense, still heavily reliant on Western aid and ammunition.

Putin’s renewed aggression in Sumy comes as part of his stated objective to create a militarized belt between Russia and Ukraine. Moscow may claim it wants peace and stability, but its actions suggest the opposite. Each new village taken, each inch of scorched borderland, underscores a war that is not winding down.

Zelenskyy, for his part, continues to publicly warn that Russia is “counting on a prolonged war.” Whether the West will remain resolute in its financial and military support to Ukraine through that long haul remains a defining question of this conflict.

For now, Sumy stands as a reminder: even as global attention shifts, the war on Europe’s eastern flank is far from over.

About the Author:

Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.

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