Russian forces try to advance alongside virtually the complete entrance in jap Ukraine whereas making an attempt to determine a buffer zone in northeastern Sumy Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi informed journalists on June 21.

The feedback come as Moscow launched a brand new summer season offensive towards Ukraine, disregarding calls by Kyiv and its Western companions for an unconditional ceasefire.

The offensive's objective is to achieve the executive borders of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts within the east, and create a buffer zone within the border areas of the Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, Syrskyi stated at a gathering attended by the Kyiv Impartial.

As of mid-June, Ukrainian defenders are combating near 695,000 Russian troops in Ukraine throughout a 1,200-kilometer (750-mile) entrance, the commander stated, including that Moscow recruited about 440,000 contract troopers this yr.

Based on the open-source intelligence group DeepState, Russian forces occupied roughly 449 sq. kilometers (173 sq. miles) in Could, the best month-to-month determine this yr.

Ukraine has managed to cease the Russian advance in Sumy Oblast in the intervening time, Syrskyi famous. "The scenario there was stabilized… now we have recaptured Andriivka, and superior between 200 and 700 meters in Yunakivka in every week," he stated.

Russian forces are additionally trying to totally oust Ukrainian troops from Russia's dwelling territory within the Kursk and Belgorod oblasts.

"We management about 90 sq. kilometers (35 sq. miles) within the Glushkovsky district of Russia's Kursk Oblast," Syrskyi stated.

Ukraine launched the cross-border offensive into Kursk Oblast — bordering Ukraine's Sumy Oblast — final August, initially seizing 1,300 sq. kilometers (500 sq. miles) however shedding the overwhelming majority of this territory in a Russian counteroffensive earlier this yr.

Moscow initially declared to have absolutely liberated the area on April 26, however this declare was rejected by Ukraine and later disputed by Russian officers themselves.

Kyiv has stated the incursion was meant to preempt a Russian offensive into Sumy Oblast and power Russia to redirect troops combating in Donetsk Oblast.

Syrskyi confused that at one level, the Kursk operation drew in virtually 63,000 Russian troopers, which, along with North Korean troopers, amounted to about 70,000 troops deployed within the area.

"In April 2025, Russian items – and this, I remind you as soon as once more, is about 60 thousand individuals… have been tasked with shifting to new sectors and reinforcing Russian assault teams within the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Lyman, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson instructions," Syrskyi stated.

"However our actions within the Glushkovsky district of Russia's Kursk Oblast thwarted these plans." In the meanwhile, about 10,000 Russian troopers are combating within the Glushkovsky district, the commander added.

Syrskyi additionally stated Russian assault items approached the executive border of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast however have been thrown again.

"As for our plans and intentions. In fact, we is not going to merely stay in a blind protection… Subsequently, we mix defensive actions with lively protection and lively offensive operations," Syrskyi stated.

For this goal, the Ukrainian navy is scaling up its assault items, which have been created initially of the Kursk operation and are presently deployed in all areas of the entrance, he added.

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