Russia’s new buffer zone push has breached northern Ukraine, as Moscow captures four villages in the Sumy region and dares the West to respond.
At a Glance
- Russian troops have seized Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
- Putin calls the operation part of a “buffer zone” strategy to secure Russia’s border.
- Ukraine confirmed the losses but insists its forces “control” the broader situation.
- Both sides are escalating drone warfare, with Russia claiming it intercepted 99 Ukrainian drones.
- Peace talks remain stalled despite diplomatic efforts from Donald Trump.
Strategic Advances and Buffer Zone Implementation
In a bold territorial grab, Russian forces captured four Ukrainian villages in the Sumy region—Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka—marking a chilling expansion of Putin’s war strategy. The move falls squarely within the Kremlin’s stated goal of building a “buffer zone” against alleged Ukrainian incursions into Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions. Ukraine’s regional governor, Oleh Hryhorov, admitted the losses, stating that Russian troops are “continuing attempts to advance with the aim of setting up a so-called ‘buffer zone’,” while still claiming Ukrainian forces are “inflicting precise fire damage on the enemy.”
But Russia isn’t stopping. According to multiple field reports, its military is already pressing toward new targets, including Volodymyrivka and Bilovodiv—territory the Kremlin now also claims under its control.
Watch a report: Russia captures four Ukrainian villages in Sumy region.
Drone War Escalates on Both Fronts
While troops contest territory on the ground, the air war is going autonomous. Over the weekend, Russia launched 355 drones in a sweeping overnight offensive. By Tuesday, that number had dropped to 60, though Moscow claimed it had intercepted 99 Ukrainian drones over seven regions. The drone conflict—far from symbolic—is delivering real casualties, with Ukrainian officials confirming at least one civilian death in Sumy from Russian shelling.
This dramatic escalation follows Ukrainian raids into Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions, provoking retaliatory strikes that now include full-scale land grabs. The goal: establish facts on the ground before talks can resume.
Trump Warns: “Putin Playing With Fire”
Amid the intensifying combat, diplomatic overtures remain tepid. President Donald Trump has reportedly warned Putin he’s “playing with fire” following Russia’s latest land grabs and drone bombardments. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov waved off the remarks as “emotional reactions,” while still acknowledging that the U.S. has taken a “balanced approach” to the war.
Despite Trump’s efforts to revive peace negotiations, no meaningful progress has emerged. Russia continues to shape the battlefield while Western allies pump billions into Ukraine’s defense—with little measurable return.
As the buffer zone expands and diplomacy stalls, this conflict is fast becoming a test not only of Ukraine’s resilience but of Washington’s strategy. If the goal was containment, the results suggest otherwise.
