Russian forces launched a fresh incursion into Ukraine’s Sumy region over the weekend, with the Russian Ministry of Defense confirming on Monday the capture of the border village of Bezsalivka, located along the Russia-Ukraine frontier.
The operation marks the latest move in line with President Vladimir Putin’s May directive to establish a security buffer zone along the entire border to shield Russian territory from Ukrainian attacks.
Military analysts suggest the new push into Sumy is aimed at relieving the prolonged battle around the Russian border town of Tetkino, situated in the Kursk region. Tetkino lies in a narrow salient surrounded on three sides by Ukrainian-controlled territory, making it vulnerable to repeated incursions.
Ukrainian forces initially attempted to seize Tetkino in March 2024, when troops landed via helicopters inside Russian territory. That operation was repelled, but further efforts followed. In August 2024, coinciding with a broader Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region approximately 67 kilometers (40 miles) east, Ukrainian forces again attempted to storm Tetkino, briefly gaining a foothold on Russian soil.
Since then, Ukrainian troops have continued aggressive attempts to capture the town, even after being largely expelled from Kursk by March 2025. Major offensives in May and June also failed to yield significant gains.
The capture of Bezsalivka, which lies to the east of the Tetkino salient, appears to be a strategic move by Russia to create a buffer zone around Tetkino, reducing the risk of encirclement and stabilizing the front in that region.
Military observers note that Ukraine’s repeated and costly attacks on a town with minimal strategic value may reflect a misallocation of dwindling resources, particularly as Western arms deliveries continue to slow amid reports of depleted NATO stockpiles.
Elsewhere along the front, Russia’s Ministry of Defense also confirmed for the first time the capture of the town of Dachne in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, marking the first Russian-held settlement in that oblast.