Sumy Region Initiates Forced Evacuation Amid Russian Troop Advances

In response to escalating military tensions, the Sumy Regional Military Administration has announced a forced evacuation for residents in eight settlements located near the Russian border. This decision comes amid a significant deterioration of the operational situation in the area, according to a statement released by the administration’s press service on social media.

The evacuation will impact the Yunakivska and Miropolska communities, home to approximately 543 residents, including children. Authorities have emphasized that the measure is necessary to ensure the safety of civilians as active military operations unfold in the border zone.

Situated close to the Kursk, Belgorod, and Bryansk regions of Russia, the Sumy region has become a focal point of rising tensions following a recent Russian military offensive. The regional capital, Sumy, lies a mere 30 kilometers from the state border, with a vital highway connecting it to the Russian city of Sudzha—a route that has drawn increased scrutiny as reports indicate Russian forces advancing beyond the Kursk region.

This week, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Valery Gerasimov, briefed President Vladimir Putin on the developments in the Kursk region. Gerasimov stated that Russian troops have crossed the state border and entered the Sumy region in specific areas, aiming to dismantle Ukrainian reserves and expand security zones. His remarks were made during Putin’s visit to the Kursk group command post on March 11.

According to Gerasimov, the Russian military has made significant territorial gains, reclaiming over a thousand square kilometers in the Kursk region, including the strategically important city of Sudzha and several nearby settlements such as Staraya Sorochina, Malaya Loknya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Martynovka, and Mikhaylovka.

As of March 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that two additional villages in the Kursk region had come under Russian control, and offensive operations continue to progress. In the Sumy region, clashes have been reported near the village of Basovka, with Russian troops advancing between the villages of Zhuravka and Novenkoye, moving approximately 500 to 700 meters into Ukrainian territory, as detailed by the publication “Suspilne” citing Ukrainian military sources.

With the evacuation underway, the situation in the Sumy region remains fluid and precarious, as local authorities work to safeguard residents amidst the ongoing conflict.