Russia can create another point of pressure on Ukrainian army: AFU officer Lapin on threat in Sumy sector

He told this on Espreso TV.

"I am paying attention to the Sumy direction, because the Russians have been conducting sabotage and reconnaissance operations in the Sumy region. There is information that they are accumulating the necessary forces there to stretch our reserves. They succeeded in doing so in the Kharkiv region. And who stopped the enemy in the Kharkiv region except for the Territorial Defense brigade, which is manned without motorized infantry units? Reserves were deployed there. It was a special unit of the National Guard and other special units. And if it starts in the Sumy region at the same time, from which fronts will we withdraw our personnel?" said the Armed Forces officer.

According to him, when the troubles started in Ocheretyne, the 100th Brigade was sent there to close the gap, which did not come from home or the training ground, but was withdrawn from another part of the front. This means that the accumulation of reserves leaves much to be desired.

"I assume that the Russians can create another source of pressure on our armed forces and stretch our reserves. Today they have been in the Kharkiv region, and I think it won't be long before they do the same in some areas of the Sumy region. However, this will not be without consequences for our intelligence, we must understand where and what forces and means the enemy is accumulating," Ihor Lapin emphasized.

• On May 13, the head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, said he expects a new Russian offensive in the Sumy region.
• On May 21, the spokesman for the State Border Guard Service, Andriy Demchenko, said that an offensive by the Russian occupation forces in the Sumy region cannot be ruled out, which could happen "at any time."
• On May 23, Andriy Demchenko reported that border guards in the Sumy region had recorded high activity of Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups.
• On May 24, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces noted that Russia is building up a group of troops near Chernihiv and Sumy regions.