Russia aims to establish a ‘buffer zone’ in Sumy region - General Romanenko

He shared this information during a broadcast on Espreso.

Over the past two weeks, the enemy has formed units, including a reconnaissance battalion, that crossed the border and seized three key settlements. Ukrainian defense forces regained control of one of them, but the enemy still holds two settlements in the Sumy region and is attempting to establish a "buffer zone."

"From a military-political perspective, Russia's goal is to push our forces out of the Kursk region and create a 'buffer zone' in Sumy. Additionally, Putin may use these actions to showcase 'successes' in his so-called special military operation to the Russian public, particularly by advancing into a new region—Sumy," Romanenko stated.

According to him, assets still under Ukrainian control in the Kursk region, despite their significant reduction, could be leveraged in negotiations.

"For example, this applies to potential exchanges involving a nuclear power plant, which is strategically important for the U.S. and Europe due to nuclear threats. Negotiations have already taken place on this matter, with pressure applied on Russia. While Trump may not show active interest, this issue will remain relevant," he added.

Read also Can Russia capture Ukraine's Sumy region? Assessing Kursk grouping and real threat

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian troops are retreating from previously held positions. As a result, the current objective of Ukraine's Armed Forces is to strike enemy equipment and personnel, Romanenko said.

"This is a complex form of combat, leading to a nearly tenfold reduction in territory under Ukrainian control. According to various estimates, approximately 100 square kilometers remain under Ukrainian control. Recent reports indicate that Russian troops, along with North Korean forces, launched offensive operations from multiple directions, including an advance from the east to the southwest through the Sudzha area. They have managed to create a divided grouping of Ukrainian forces in the northern and western directions near the Sumy border. This situation presents new challenges for our forces, particularly in holding these territories where possible," the general concluded.

What is known about the operation in the Kursk region

The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched their operation in the Kursk region on August 6, 2024, when Ukrainian troops crossed the Russia-Ukraine border near the town of Sudzha. This was the first combined-arms operation by the Ukrainian forces on Russian territory since the start of the full-scale invasion.

During the operation, Ukrainian forces achieved several operational and tactical goals:

• They prevented a breakthrough of Russian troops into the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
• Russian forces were forced to redeploy significant troops from Donbas, reducing pressure on Ukrainian positions there.

There are an estimated 60,000 Russian troops in the Kursk region. Russian forces are trying to encircle the Ukrainian group, particularly by attempting to cut off the highway connecting Sudzha with the Sumy region.

On March 14, Ukraine’s General Staff stated that there was no threat of Ukrainian troops being encircled in Kursk.

On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian operation in Kursk had fulfilled its objectives.

On March 15, the DeepState analytical project reported that the Russian army had regained full control over Sudzha in the Kursk region and another settlement in the Sudzha district.

On March 17, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that the Ukrainian forces in Kursk had repositioned to more advantageous defensive lines, denying reports of Ukrainian troops being surrounded.