Russian army may launch offensive towards Sumy – ISW
Illustrative photo / Telegram / Sumy Regional Military Administration
Ukrainian troops may have to cover a broader front, as Russian military units could potentially launch an attack towards Sumy.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports this.
Based on information from Ukrainian sources, the Russian Federation seems to focus on the Sumy region. However, their troops in this area are reportedly scarce, understaffed, and not working together effectively.
However, American analysts note that "even such a Russian grouping of forces will probably be able to achieve the desired effect of pulling back and anchoring Ukrainian forces on the international border."
The material emphasizes that "ISW continues to assess that even limited Russian activity on other parts of the international border below the threshold of Russian offensive operations could lead to the stretching of Ukrainian forces along a wider front."
For reference:
Recently, in an interview with the New York Times, the head of Ukraine's intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Russian occupying forces may launch a new attack north of Kharkiv in the Sumy region.
The head of Ukrainian intelligence expects that the attacks in the Kharkiv region "will continue for another three or four days," after which the invaders will probably make an offensive toward Sumy. The intelligence chief noted that the Russians' goal in the northeast was to sow panic and turmoil in the region.
In turn, the ISW stated that on May 13, Russian troops continued tactically significant offensives to the north and northeast of the city of Kharkiv. At this time, it seems that they are prioritizing the rapid creation of a "buffer zone" along the border with Ukraine rather than advancing deep into the region.
It's worth mentioning that the US prohibition on using Western weapons to strike Russian territory significantly weakens Ukraine's ability to defend against Russian offensives in the north of the Kharkiv region.
