Russian Forces Capture Key Ukrainian Town on Kursk Border

Russian forces have captured the border town of Basivka in the Sumy region of Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed this in their daily update on the progress of the war, which they refer to as the “Special Military Operation”.

The town is important for any push into the Sumy region as it sits less than 2 miles (3.5 km) from the border checkpoint that separates the Sumy and Kursk regions. Russian forces recently re-captured the checkpoint.

Capturing the town also allows Russian forces to straighten out their frontline as the town is located inside of an area that creates a bulge of Ukrainian territory along the border which allowed Ukrainian forces to outflank the town of Sudzha and the border checkpoint back in August when Ukraine launched its incursion into Kursk.

Elsewhere on the front, Ukrainian forces are still fighting in the nearby Belgorod region of Russia, appearing to attempt another incursion into Russian territory, though no significant advances have been reported.

The fighting comes amid continued Russian advances along the entire front and a reported buildup of Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions, which has led to claims and speculation by members of Ukraine’s military and political leadership to claim Russia may launch a large scale offensive this spring or summer.

Ukraine’s troubles may also be building on the diplomatic front as well, the British publication The Telegraph reported on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump, frustrated about the lack of progress in obtaining a quick ceasefire to the conflict may soon present Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with an ultimatum, accept peace on Russia’s terms or lose U.S. support, including military aid and intelligence sharing.