Ukrainian forces have repelled Russia’s latest push into the northern Sumy region and stabilized the front line near the border, Ukraine’s top military commander said Thursday.
Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander in chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, credited the gains with preventing Moscow from redeploying some 50,000 troops – including elite airborne and naval infantry units – to other critical fronts.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi (L) listens to an officer as they check a map during a visit to the front line in the Sumy region, Ukraine, June 26, 2025. (AFP Photo)
His claim could not be independently verified, and Russian officials did not immediately respond.
Russian forces have been slowly grinding forward at some points along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, though their incremental gains have been costly in terms of troop casualties and damaged armor. The outnumbered Ukrainian army has relied heavily on drones to keep the Russians back.
