Kyiv – On Sunday, Ukrainian defense forces announced the successful reclamation of Bezsalivka village in the northeastern Sumy region, which lies close to the Russia-Ukraine border, reports 24brussels.
The General Staff of Ukraine confirmed the restoration of control over Bezsalivka, situated less than one kilometer from the border with Russia. This comes after the Russian Defense Ministry had previously declared capture of the village on July 7.
Located approximately 48 kilometers northwest of Sumy, the administrative center of the region, Bezsalivka has frequently been subjected to Russian airstrikes amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis that has persisted for over four years.
What does the Sumy front mean for the wider war?
The conflict in the Sumy region has significantly altered the global dynamics of the war, expanding and intensifying the northern front. Reports indicate that Russian forces have amassed approximately 50,000 troops around Sumy—three times the local Ukrainian military’s size—aiming to advance deeper into northern Ukraine and establish a “security buffer zone” along the border.
This military buildup has stretched the front line over 750 miles, driven by a diversion of Russian troop activities from the southeast to the northern Sumy area, resulting in an expansion exceeding 100 miles over the past year.
In recent months, Russian troops have occupied several villages north of Sumy, bringing the frontline alarmingly close to the city itself, which now faces increasing risks from drone and missile strikes.
Although Ukraine has executed limited counteroffensives, including the recapture of Andriivka village, Russian forces have maintained relentless assaults on critical infrastructure near Sumy. They aim to penetrate Ukrainian defenses in Yunakivka, seeking control over terrain that facilitates shelling of Sumy city and launching Iranian drone attacks that terrorize the civilian population.
How did Ukraine also retake Kindrativka village?
In addition to reclaiming Bezsalivka, Ukrainian forces have successfully seized Kindrativka village, situated near Sumy city, following intense combat. By late July 2025, Ukrainian troops had completely liberated Kindrativka in one of their most significant ground successes in the region.
