Ukrainian authorities have ordered the mandatory evacuation of 11 villages in the northeastern Sumy region, amid escalating Russian bombardments and growing fears of a large-scale military offensive.
In a statement released Thursday, the Sumy regional administration said the evacuation was necessary “due to the constant threat to civilian lives because of the bombardments of border communities.”
The decision follows reports that Russian forces have captured another village in the region—Vodolagy, known in Ukrainian as Vodolahy—according to a statement from Russia’s Ministry of Defence.
Over the past several weeks, Russian troops have claimed control of multiple villages in northeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned earlier this week that more than 50,000 Russian soldiers have been deployed near the Sumy border, suggesting preparations for a renewed offensive in the area.
“The threat is real,” said Andriy Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s border guard service. Speaking Thursday, Demchenko noted that Russian troop movements intensified after a series of Ukrainian cross-border operations last year into Russia’s Kursk region—an area now largely under Russian control.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies around 20% of Ukrainian territory. The war, now in its third year, has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and led to repeated waves of civilian displacement.
The evacuation of the 11 villages adds to growing humanitarian concerns as military activity increases in northern Ukraine. While most international attention has recently focused on fighting in the east and south of the country, the Sumy region’s proximity to the Russian border has made it especially vulnerable to surprise attacks and artillery shelling.
Efforts to bring an end to the conflict remain stalled. Although Washington continues to lead diplomatic initiatives, there is little progress on the ground. The Kremlin has proposed another round of talks in Istanbul, following a largely inconclusive meeting on 16 May that resulted in a large prisoner exchange but no agreement on a ceasefire.
Kyiv has yet to confirm whether it will attend the upcoming Istanbul meeting, citing Russia’s refusal to support an immediate truce as a key stumbling block.
As tensions rise and fighting intensifies, the prospect of renewed large-scale combat in the Sumy region has added fresh urgency to diplomatic and military planning on both sides.
