Russian forces have entered the town of Yunakovka in Ukraine’s Sumy region and have begun operations to seize control of the strategically vital settlement, according to reports from the front lines.
Yunakovka, located just five miles (8 km) from the Russian border and approximately 15 miles (24 km) from the regional capital, Sumy, has served as a critical logistics hub for Ukraine. It was from this town that Ukrainian forces launched their offensive into Russia’s Kursk region last August, and it continues to serve as a forward base for troop and supply movements aimed at further incursions.
The town’s fall would mark a significant blow to Ukraine’s operational capabilities in the area and could open the door for deeper Russian advances into northeastern Ukraine.
The offensive comes just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to create a “security buffer zone” along the entire length of the Russia-Ukraine border. The proposed zone would encompass Ukraine’s Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. However, at present, active Russian ground operations are limited to the Sumy region. Fighting in Kharkiv remains largely static, and no major incursions have been reported in Chernihiv, aside from isolated cross-border raids.
Putin’s recent remarks have fueled speculation that the Kremlin may have its sights set on capturing Sumy itself. During a web conference on Thursday, when asked directly if Sumy was a military objective, Putin notably did not deny the possibility. Earlier in the week, he made a cryptic comment about the appointment of Alexander Khinshtein as governor of Kursk Oblast, saying, “He always wanted more,” when pressed again on intentions toward Sumy.
In parallel with the ground offensive, Russia has intensified its aerial campaign across Ukraine. Over the past two nights, Russian forces have launched heavy airstrikes, including a missile strike on a cargo ship in Odesa on Friday night that the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed was transporting Western-supplied weapons. Another major strike targeted the Antonov factory near Kyiv, a key facility used to assemble combat drones for the Ukrainian military.
The situation around Yunakovka is rapidly evolving, and analysts suggest its capture could shift the balance of power along this stretch of the northern front—potentially enabling Russia to project force deeper into Ukrainian territory in the coming weeks.