Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast possible – Ukrainian Border Guard Service
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A Russian offensive in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast cannot be ruled out, Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, said on national television on May 23.
"As long as we have such a neighbor, as long as we have aggression from Russia against our country, of course, we should expect and be prepared for any situation in any direction, including in the direction of Sumy," he said, citing the enemy’s devastating actions in neighboring Kharkiv Oblast as evidence of a possible scenario in Sumy Oblast.
The Russians may do this to stretch the Ukrainian defense forces and create panic among the civilian population.
However, according to Demchenko, the enemy does not currently have enough forces to achieve any strategic goals or penetrate deeper into Ukrainian territory.
"This is true both in terms of equipment and personnel, but of course, the enemy's forces can outnumber our forces, so even though the Russians do not have enough of their own capabilities to go deep into the territory of Ukraine, again (...) they can create the similar situation in Sumy Oblast as in Kharkiv Oblast."
He also noted the rather high activity of the enemy's subversive reconnaissance groups in the oblast.
Earlier, on May 17, Andriy Kovalenko, director of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, said that the Russian forces deployed near Sumy Oblast are currently insufficient for a rapid breakthrough across the border.
Russia's possible attack on Sumy
The Russian attacks in Kharkiv Oblast will continue for "another three or four days", after which the Russian troops are expected to "make a decisive offensive in the direction of Sumy," Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) head, Kyrylo Budanov, told The New York Times on May 14.
Russia maintains a small group of forces on the border near Sumy Oblast, he said.
The Russian invaders planned to attack the Sumy Oblast in connection with Kharkiv Oblast, National Security and Defence Council's Center for Countering Disinformation head, Andriy Kovalenko, said.
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The situation in Sumy Oblast is under control, civilians were evacuated from Bilopillya on the recommendation of the military, and the construction of defense structures in the region is almost complete, regional governor, Volodymyr Artyukh, said in response to Budanov's comments.
The Russians would not have enough strength to attack Sumy Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, and the eastern regions of Ukraine at the same time, Sumy District Council deputy chair, Volodymyr Bitsak, said on May 15.
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