Ukraine is evacuating 11 more villages in north-eastern Sumy region amid fears of large-scale Russian offensive as Kremlin continues to make gains in the region. Over 200 villages have been evacuated since last week.
The announcement came after the Russian army breached several border villages in the region. Russian troops on Saturday captured two villages in Sumy, killing two people in a drone and missile attack. The Sumy Regional Military Administration announced the evacuation in the border villages of Horobivka, Shtanivka, Voronivka, Yanchenky, Tsymbalivka, Shkurativka, Krovne, Mykolaivka, Rudnivka, Spaske and Kapitanivka settlements on Saturday morning via a social media update.
“All those in need of assistance are provided with transportation, humanitarian aid, temporary accommodation and social benefits,” according to a social media post made by Sumy regional administration.
The offensive on Sumy region resumed after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last week that the Russian army was establishing a “buffer zone” along the border with Ukraine. Putin made the announcement while visiting its Kursk region that borders Ukraine’s Sumy region and was subjected to large-scale Ukrainian incursion last year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed on Wednesday that Russia had amassed 50,000 troops near Sumy region.
Amid intensified Russian attacks on Sumy, there are speculation suggesting that Kremlin is preparing for a summer offensive in the region.
