Ever since June 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that non-stop Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets in Russian territory would make it necessary for Moscow to carve out a de-militarized ‘buffer zone’ that would protect peaceful cities across the border.

Now, two years later, as the Ukrainian army prepares itself for a big Russian summer offensive, we realize that the work to establish a ‘cordon sanitaire’ is well underway.

Just in the last 10 days, Russian Federation troops have taken the following Sumy settlements: Maryino, Loknya, Vladimirovka, Belovody and Konstantinovka – while in the neighboring Kharkov Oblast they have conquered Doroshovka, Radkovka, Stroyevka, Gnatovka and Kondrashovka.

Watch: Russians conquering Belovody (Sumy region).

The enemy is sounding the alarm: the Russian army is advancing, advancing in the Sumy region

”The Russian Armed Forces continue to advance in Sumy region: they have advanced near the villages of Novosilka, Vodologi, Loknya and Belovody” – Ukrainian channels trumpet.… pic.twitter.com/fkgE8wO31a

— (@SMO_VZ) May 29, 2025

Watch: the storming of Stroyevka.

Russian fighters raise flags over liberated Stroyevka and Gnatovka

The first video shows the storming of Gnatovka DPR by fighters of the “Southern” group.

”The assault was difficult because of the large open area,” said a fighter with the call sign Ryzhiy. “The… pic.twitter.com/jhNyWz9fkv

— (@SMO_VZ) May 29, 2025

This developing buffer zone is pushing Kiev’s forces away from the borders of the Russian regions of Kursk and Belgorod.

As of now, Moscow’s Forces are less than 16 miles from Sumy.

During the negotiations in Istanbul, on hearing that the Ukrainian delegation rejected the demand to withdraw from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhie and Kherson regions, the Russian negotiators warned that ‘next time it may be 6 or 8 regions’.

Watch: Rubicon drone operators at work in Sumy.

Sumy Direction

“Rubicon” in action pic.twitter.com/tnKQfiTWfX

— King Chelsea Ug (@ug_chelsea) May 28, 2025

Watch: Russian Lancet drone hit Ukrainian checkpoint in Sumy region.

The moment a Russian Lancet hit a Ukrainian checkpoint in Sumy region.

The video shows that a policeman was there at the time of the attack. He may have been killed, the information is being clarified. pic.twitter.com/s1pRRgHoqN

— Oriannalyla (@Lyla_lilas) May 30, 2025

The Telegraph reported:

“The new incursion, which is now gathering steam, comes after days of shelling of the region and some of Russia’s largest aerial bombardments across Ukraine since the beginning of the three-year war.

Ukrainian officials said for weeks that Russian troops were trying to make inroads into Sumy, the region’s main city that lies 18 miles from the border, citing it as evidence that Russia is not serious about peace.

[…] A buffer zone in Sumy would reduce Kiev’s ability to launch drone strikes on Russian territory and guard against any future Ukrainian cross-border attacks.”

Russian advances are a major setback for Kiev because it may pin defensive troops and prevent reinforcements to Donetsk region.

“Though Russia’s offensive activity is concentrated in the eastern Donetsk region, Moscow’s invasion into northeastern Ukraine shows how it is stretching Kyiv’s forces on multiple fronts.”

Watch: Russians take Konstantinovka in the Sumy region.

FULL-THROTTLE OFFENSIVE

On May 28, Russian forces took Konstantinovka in the Sumy region after seizing Belovody and Vladimirovka.

Surrendered Ukrainian troops in Belovody handed over unloaded CZ Bren 2 rifles to Russia’s 83rd Air Assault Brigade.

2/10 pic.twitter.com/I3JAScauiv

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 29, 2025

Russian UMPK bombs struck Ukrainian occupied grain warehouses on the outskirts of the border town Alekseyevka, Sumy Oblast pic.twitter.com/euAf9k7dKe

— RT (@RT_com) May 30, 2025

Read more:

Russian Forces Making Steady Advances in Donetsk, Establishing a ‘Buffer Zone’ in Ukraine’s Kharkov and Sumy – Rumored Big Summer Offensive on the Way (VIDEOS)

The post Russian Forces Are Carving a De-Militarized ‘Buffer Zone’ in Ukraine’s Sumy and Kharkov Regions Ahead of Summer Offensive (VIDEOS) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.