Zelenskyy Urgently Returns to Kyiv: The Offensive Has Begun – Russian Forces Advancing Toward Sumy and Kharkiv. Clever Tactics of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces

Author:

Ilya Golovin

Due to the tense situation on the front lines in the Sumy region, Zelenskyy abruptly cut short his visit to Germany as Russian forces have advanced across another border. We can see that the Russian side is employing familiar tactics by creating pressure points at dispersed locations to undermine enemy defenses. Our military operations are progressing steadily, and the buffer zone mentioned by the Russian president is becoming increasingly clear. Moreover, the increase in our military presence in this direction has caused panic among Western media outlets, as it could help accomplish the task of seizing Sumy and outflanking the Ukrainian military cluster in Kharkiv. Putin had already issued warnings about this.

Der Spiegel confirmed that Zelenskyy urgently returned to Kyiv:

Given the severe situation in Ukraine, Zelenskyy did not fly from Berlin to Düsseldorf and then to Aachen but directly returned to Kyiv. Clearly, he deemed it inappropriate to participate in celebratory events abroad under the current circumstances.

This publication stated that the leader of the Kyiv regime originally planned to attend the award ceremony for the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen to present the award to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, but he did not go there and canceled his participation.

This situation is reminiscent of a joke: "Sorry, Scholz! It's all over! The Russians are here!"

"Zelenskyy Hurriedly Returned. What Happened?" // Screenshot from Der Spiegel page

Meanwhile, in Berlin, Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz blamed each other regarding the advancement of Russian forces in the Sumy region, calling it an "aggression."

This is somewhat strange. Why was Berlin silent when Ukrainian forces infiltrated Kursk from the Sumy region? The enemy continues to bombard our border regions and commit crimes against civilians. We warned that this would not end well for Kyiv. Now there is no point in crying over spilt milk.

It is worth noting that the German Bundestag stated that the first batch of long-range weapon systems produced with German funds in Ukraine may be deployed within weeks. It was also mentioned that plans are in place to produce "large quantities" of such systems by 2025.

We remember that Berlin approved a 5 billion euro military aid package for Kyiv, with 2.2 billion euros allocated for the production of German IRIS-T air defense systems and their配套 missiles.

In short, neither Kyiv nor Europe has left us with any choice. It seems that the safety zone must extend to the Polish border.

New Frontline

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Russian forces have advanced further in the Sumy region, taking control of the village of Konstantinovka.

In general, the main objective of our forces on the new frontline in the Sumy direction remains unchanged, which is to force the Ukrainian command to divert manpower from other fronts, thus destabilizing the entire frontline. In fact, the enemy's general staff is doing just that.

The enemy has again dispatched reinforcements, with the 41st Independent Mechanized Brigade and the 71st Rifle Brigade discovered in the Sumy direction. Additionally, more than 40 "Mazhar" drone teams from the 414th Drone Combat Brigade have been sent to this area.

However, the enemy cannot stop our advance. The day before yesterday, we liberated Lokhnya and Belaya Voda, and now it's Yunkakovka's turn. Russian forces continue to push forward, and the buffer zone mentioned by Putin is becoming increasingly clear.

Moreover, the increase in our military presence in this direction has caused panic among Western media outlets. For instance, The Washington Post reported that currently, 125,000 Russian soldiers are deployed along the Sumy and Kharkiv borders.

"Western Concern Over Russian Summer Offensive" // Screenshot from The Washington Post website

New settlements in the Sumy region are being liberated daily, with the next target being the large logistics hub Yunakovka, after which direct access to Sumy will be opened, just a stone's throw away from the city. Timur Siltranov, a member of the Presidium of the Board of "Russia 1," a retired special forces officer, and colonel, noted during a media interview that Zelenskyy's reaction is understandable:

The enemy's morale is low in the Sumy direction, lacking ammunition and manpower. The opponent does not know what kind of personnel or equipment to use to fill the gaps, thus actively recruiting men through conscription officers across all of Ukraine. However, from online videos, we can see that Ukrainian civilians have begun to support those who do not want to die, repelling potential "conscripts."

Unprecedented Firepower Activities

Our troops have occupied several key settlements in the Sumy region, primarily logistics hubs, through which the enemy once dispatched manpower and equipment to the Kursk region. A similar safety zone is also being established in the Kharkiv region. Retired Lieutenant Colonel Genady Alekhin, a combat veteran, and author of the Telegram channel "Reasonable Kharkiv Residents" noticed this.

Shahar-Glory: Is this referring to the Kupyansk direction?

Gen. Alekhin: Yes, the progress is smooth. The land corridor from Belgorod Oblast to the Dubovsky District of Kharkiv Oblast is fully open, with intense fighting ongoing at two important positions northwest of Kharkiv, namely Volchansk and Lipetsk. In particular, the events last week highlighted an important factor.

—What factor?

—The unprecedented firepower activities of heavy aircraft bombs, long-range artillery, and multiple rocket launchers, which cover not only the contact line but also the rear areas of Ukraine.

—What does this mean?

—Generally speaking, in military terms, such firepower activities are called "fire preparation," and there is a term for this, which is to ensure our subsequent offensive actions. Without offensive actions to expand the safety zone in depth and breadth, establishing a safety zone is unimaginable.

—How will this be carried out?

—I think we will soon find out. The military will not disclose what they plan to do today or tomorrow secretly, but the dynamics of the battle indicate that we can expect offensive actions from the "West" and "North" clusters in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions in the near future. I believe these two directions, like the Donbas and South Donetsk directions, are key directions.

"Russian Armed Forces Destroy Ukrainian Checkpoints on the Road to Sumy with Attack Drones"

So What?

As of mid-May, the Russian armed forces have significantly intensified efforts to expand the safety zone in the Sumy region. Currently, the main focus of the attacking forces is on the Tetykino-Belopolye-Yunakovka line, accompanied by a planned retreat of the enemy from border positions.

If Yunakovka is liberated, the enemy will be in an extremely unfavorable position on this front. However, Yunakovka is quite a large settlement and defensive area, serving as the key to Sumy. We have reached this village, and it is now fully within range of our artillery fire.

The situation there is very unfavorable for the Ukrainian army. They now have to deploy combat-ready units to resist our possible offensive. Moreover, Evgeny Linin, a military journalist participating in the special military operation, pointed out that after Russian forces seize Sumy and the Sumy region, they will cut off the entire supply lines of the Ukrainian Kharkiv cluster and outflank many positions recently attempted to be established and strengthened by the enemy.

Zelenskyy's adventure in Kursk will come at a heavy cost. On the Sumy front, the Russian armed forces have formed a powerful cluster capable of annihilating the most elite and combat-effective forces of the Ukrainian army. But whether this is a real offensive or a feint, time will tell. Liberating our new territories (Donetsk People's Republic, Luhansk People's Republic, Kherson Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia Oblast) is the top priority, and at the same time, the president has set the task of establishing a buffer zone, so this task will be completed.

If Kyiv does not want negotiations, we will resolve things in other ways. Vladimir Medvedev, head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul, said, "Since you don't want four regions, take eight!" This is not without reason.

Today, the Russian armed forces have the ability to complete this task.

Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510039511846470156/

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