Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia has concentrated 50,000 troops near the northeastern Sumy region, signaling preparations for a large-scale offensive. The buildup comes as Kiev braces for renewed assaults along the border, where Moscow has reportedly sought to establish a 10-kilometer buffer zone.
Speaking during an emergency meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Zelenskyy stated that Russia’s "largest and strongest forces" are currently positioned near the Kursk front, aiming to push Ukrainian troops out of the region and launch further offensives toward Sumy. Ukrainian forces had previously conducted a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk oblast last August, leveraging drones and Western-supplied weaponry.
Chancellor Merz received Zelenskyy with military honors in Berlin, where discussions centered on Germany’s continued support for Ukraine, including potential deliveries of long-range missile systems such as Taurus. A German government spokesperson confirmed that the talks would also address efforts to broker a ceasefire in the three-year conflict.
Berlin, one of Kiev’s staunchest allies, is expected to announce a multibillion-euro aid package, enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses, artillery stocks, and financial assistance for U.S. military purchases. The deal may also include technical support for Kiev to independently produce long-range missiles—a move designed to bolster Ukraine’s self-sufficiency while mitigating political risks for Germany.
However, Merz faces domestic scrutiny over fears of deeper entanglement in the war. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized Berlin’s military ambitions, calling plans to build Europe’s strongest army "very worrying" and invoking historical parallels to 20th-century German militarization.
Amid escalating hostilities, Ukrainian forces have reportedly pushed Russian troops back by 4 kilometers in recent days. However, Moscow has seized four border villages in the Sumy region, though local officials confirmed civilians had been evacuated earlier. Regional Governor Oleh Hryhorov stated that over 56,000 residents have fled due to intensified shelling.
Ukrainian military officials also warned of potential new Russian offensives toward Kharkov, where Moscow has massed troops near the border. While Russian forces have yet to launch major assaults, Kiev remains on high alert.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently reiterated plans to create a "security buffer zone" along the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions—bordering Ukraine’s Sumy, Kharkov, and Chernihiv oblasts. Ukrainian intelligence suggests a broader summer offensive may be imminent, with fighting intensifying across the 1,000-kilometer frontline.
Zelenskyy disclosed that Russia recruits 40,000 to 45,000 soldiers monthly—far outpacing Ukraine’s mobilization rate. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military claims Russian losses have neared 1 million troops since the 2022 invasion, a figure echoed by U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg, who estimated total casualties on both sides exceeding 1 million.
Overnight, Ukraine reportedly struck two drone factories near Moscow, though damage assessments remain unclear. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 296 Ukrainian drones, temporarily disrupting air traffic in the capital.
In Kharkov, five ballistic missile attacks injured eight civilians, regional authorities reported.
Zelenskyy and Merz are scheduled to hold a press conference before meeting German business leaders to discuss postwar reconstruction plans. Kiev continues to urge Western allies for sustained military backing, warning that any perceived hesitation only emboldens Moscow’s aggression.