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2025 Sumy Oblast incursion

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2025 Sumy Oblast Incursion
Part of Northern Ukraine border skirmishes

Map of Sumy oblast as of 29 March 2025
Date19 February 2025 – present
(1 month, 1 week and 5 days)
Location
Sumy Oblast, Ukraine
Result Ongoing
Territorial
changes		 Russian reoccupation of parts of Sumy Oblast
Belligerents
 Russia
 Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Russia Unknown Volodymyr Artyukh
Units involved
  • 15th Mobile Border Detachment
  • 36th Marine Brigade
  • 78th Airborne Assault Regiment
  • 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade
    • Casualties and losses
    Ukraine claim:
    20 soldiers killed
    15 wounded    		 Unknown
    31 residents evacuated, and 2 injured

    In an effort to counter Ukraine’s offensive in Kursk, Russian forces launched cross-border incursions from Russia into Ukraine.

    On 10 January 2025, Russian troops crossed the international border into Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast, advancing west of Zhuravka.[1] However, a few days later, the Ukrainian military claimed their forces had successfully pushed back the Russian attack.

    In mid-February, Russian forces launched another cross-border incursion,[2][3][4][5] claiming to have captured the village of Basivka,[6] followed by Novenke a few days later.[7]

    By the end of February, Ukraine's Center for Combatting Disinformation acknowledged the presence of Russian forces, while DeepState described Basivka and Novenke as "gray zones."[8][9]

    Background

    [edit]
    Main articles: Russian occupation of Sumy Oblast and Battle of Sumy

    Throughout 2024, Russian forces had launched limited cross-border attacks in Sumy Oblast, targeting the villages of Zhuravka, Chuikivka, Rozhkovychi, and Sytne, but all attempts ended in failure.[10][11] Russian troops raided the village of Ryzhivka in June 2024, located near the border, close to the Russian settlement of Tyotkino. Geolocation footage confirmed that Russian troops had entered the village and advanced approximately 730 meters into Ukraine.[12] However, the next day, Russian forces withdrew from the area.[13]

    On 6 August 2024, Ukrainian forces launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk Oblast and occupied part of the region. On 15 August, they captured the town of Sudzha. Around the same time, Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced the establishment of a military administration in the occupied areas of Kursk Oblast, which would be led by Major General Eduard Moskaliov as the head of the military command office.

    Opposing forces

    [edit]

    Russia

    [edit]

    The 810th Naval Infantry Brigade was the first Russian unit known to have entered the Sumy Oblast when it was reported in mid-February that some of its units had crossed the border and entered the village of Basivka [uk].[14][15] Amid their operations in Sumy Oblast throughout February and March, other elements of the 810th Brigade have remained in the area of Guyevo, Plekhovo, and Kurilovka [ru] in the Kursk Oblast.[16][17][18][19]

    By early March, it was widely reported that the 83rd Air Assault Brigade, which had taken the Russian border village of Nikolayevo-Darino in January,[20] was operating around the neighboring village of Zhuravka [uk] in Sumy Oblast,[21][22][23][24] where it remained throughout the month.[25][26]

    By 22 February, it had been reported that the 56th Air Assault Regiment was operating near the border village of Novenke, in Sumy Oblast.[27] Throughout March 2025, it was reported that units of the regiment, including its drone units,[28] were operating within Sumy Oblast and along the international border.[29][30][31]

    By late March, it was reported that the 51st Airborne Regiment [uk], which had been located in the Russian border villages of Sverdlikovo [ru] and Lebedevka [ru] the previous month,[15][27][16] had taken control of most of Basivka[30] and was present near the Sudzha border post.[31]

    It was reported in late March that elements of the 34th Mountain Motor Rifle Brigade had advanced near the Ukrainian border village of Veselivka [uk],[26] after having taken part in an operation to capture the village of Malaya Loknya in Kursk Oblast earlier in the month.[19]

    Ukraine

    [edit]

    Units of Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade repelled an Russian assault (which they claimed involved North Korean forces) between Sverdlikovo and Novenke in mid-March 2025.[32] The 36th Brigade was still in defense of the border villages of Sumy Oblast by the end of March 2025.[33]

    By late March, the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade was operating in a border village in Sumy Oblast.[34]

    Ukraine's 78th Airborne Assault Regiment repelled a Russian attempt to cross the state border near the village of Zhuravka in February 2025.[35]

    Throughout March, the 15th Mobile Border Detachment of Ukraine's State Border Guard Service engaged in combat with Russian forces on the border of the Sumy Oblast.[36][37]

    Incursion

    [edit]

    On February 19, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on a televised broadcast that the 810th Brigade had crossed the border between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, entering Sumy Oblast.[3][4][5] However, this claim was denied by the head of Ukraine's Center for Combatting Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, as well as senior Ukrainian military officials.[38][39][40][41][42]

    The following day, Russian sources reported that soldiers from the 810th Brigade had successfully entered Basivka, while Ukrainian sources confirmed that Russian forces had stormed the border in the Sumy Oblast.[6][2] Later, on 25 February, Russian forces again claimed that they had seized Novenke and were making progress toward northern Zhuravka [uk].[7] Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military acknowledged that Russian troops had crossed the border near Novenke but stated that they had successfully pushed them back into Russian territory.[43]

    On 28 February, Ukraine's Center for Combatting Disinformation acknowledged that Russian forces were attacking along the international border near Basivka and Novenke. Meanwhile, DeepState described both Basivka [uk] and Novenke as "grey zones".[8][9] By March 2, Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces had captured Zhuravka.[44] Around the same time, DeepState reported that Russian troops had broken through near the settlements of Novenke and Zhuravka and were reinforcing their positions.[45] On 7 March 2025, Russian sources claimed that their armed forces had taken over Novenke,[46] and the next day, based on geolocation footage released, it’s likely that Russian forces captured Novenke.[47][48]

    After successfully recapturing the town of Sudzha, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed establishing a so-called "buffer zone" in Sumy Oblast to protect Kursk from future attacks.[49] Starting on 11 March, Russian forces advanced west of Basivka and southwest of Zhuravka.[50] in an effort to consolidate their positions in the region.[51][52][53] An Ukrainian official claimed that Russia was massing troops along the border in preparation for an "assault" on Sumy Oblast.[54]

    By 23 March, Russian sources claimed their troops had moved into Volodymyrivka [uk].[55] A few days later, geolocated footage indicated that Russian forces had seized the border checkpoint between Sumy and Sudzha to the east of Basivka.[56][57] Ukrainian commander Syrskyi said that their forces are conducting a defensive operation to prevent Russian troops from advancing further into the northern Sumy region.[58]

    At the end of March, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Russian forces had captured Veselivka.[59][60] However, Ukrainian officials denied reports of this Russian breakthrough.[61][62]

    Casualties

    [edit]

    Civilian casualties

    [edit]

    On 12 March, Russia carried out mortar and artillery attacks on the Myropillia hromada, injuring an adult man.[63]

    On 22 March, Ukrainian media reported that the Ukraine's State Emergency Service evacuated 31 people—including three children—from the border area of Sumy Oblast.[64] On 30 March, while Ukraine's State Emergency Service was evacuating civilians from the Sumy border region, Russian forces launched an attack in the area, leaving one man injured.[65]

    Military casualties

    [edit]

    Russian

    [edit]

    On 12 March, the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service, Andrii Demchenko, reported that around 20 Russian soldiers were killed near the border area, while approximately 15 others were wounded.[66]

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 12, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 12 January 2025. Russian forces recently crossed into northern Sumy Oblast as part of their ongoing efforts to eliminate the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast. Geolocated footage published on January 10 indicates that Russian forces recently crossed the international border and advanced west of Zhuravka
    2. ^ a b "Russian troops stormed the border in Sumy region". Militarnyi. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    3. ^ a b "Putin announces beginning of offensive on Ukraine from Kursk". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    4. ^ a b "Путину доложили о пересечении ВС РФ границы в Курской области". TACC (in Russian). Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    5. ^ a b "Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events – day 1,092". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    6. ^ a b "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 20, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 21 March 2025. Russian milbloggers also claimed that Russian forces crossed the Ukraine-Russia international border from Sverdlikovo into Sumy Oblast near Novenke and Basivka (both just south of the international border) and that elements of the Russian 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet [BSF]) entered Basivka
    7. ^ a b "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 21 March 2025. A Russian source claimed that Russian forces seized Novenke and advanced in northern Zhuravka
    8. ^ a b Грамм, Вікторія (28 February 2025). "Село Новеньке на Сумщині у "сірій" зоні — Deep State" [The village of Novenke in Sumy region is in the 'gray' zone — Deep State]. Суспільне | Новини (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 March 2025.
    9. ^ a b "ВСУ остановили прорыв войск РФ возле с. Новенькое в Сумской области. Враг продолжает попытки штурмов, - Генштаб Источник" [The Ukrainian Armed Forces stopped a breakthrough of Russian troops near the village of Novenke in the Sumy region. The enemy keeps trying to attack, - General Staff Source]. Censor.net. 28 March 2025.
    10. ^ Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Evans, Angelica; Hird, Karolina; Kagan, Frederick W. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 1, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
    11. ^ Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Mappes, Grace; Hird, Karolina; Barros, George. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, July 2, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
    12. ^ Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Hird, Karolina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 10, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
    13. ^ Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Hird, Karolina; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Barros, George. "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 10, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
    14. ^ Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Mappes, Grace; Kagan, Frederick W. (19 February 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 19, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    15. ^ a b Mappes, Grace; Gasparyan, Davit; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Hird, Karolina; Barros, George; Runkel, William (20 February 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 20, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    16. ^ a b Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Gibson, Olivia; Barros, George; Runkel, William (23 February 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 23, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    17. ^ Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Gibson, Olivia; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W.; Trotter, Nate; Runkel, William (7 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 7, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    18. ^ Harward, Christina; Evans, Angelica; Gibson, Olivia; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W.; Runkel, William (8 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 8, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    19. ^ a b Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Harward, Christina; Gibson, Olivia; Barros, George; Trotter, Nate; Runkel, William (9 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 9, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    20. ^ Harward, Christina; Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Mappes, Grace; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Hard, Karolina; Barros, George; Trotter, Nate (28 January 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 28, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    21. ^ Gasparyan, Davit; Evans, Angelica; Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Kagan, Frederick W.; Runkel, William (1 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 1, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    22. ^ Harward, Christina; Evans, Angelica; Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Kagan, Frederick W.; Runkel, William (2 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 2, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    23. ^ Harward, Christina; Evans, Angelica; Mappes, Grace; Wolkov, Nicole; Novikov, Daria; Barros, George (3 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 3, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    24. ^ Hird, Karolina; Mappes, Grace; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Harward, Christina; Gasparyan, Davit; Novikov, Daria; Kagan, Frederick W.; Trotter, Nate (4 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    25. ^ Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Gibson, Olivia; Novikov, Daria; Kagan, Frederick W.; Trotter, Nate (10 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 10, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    26. ^ a b Wolkov, Nicole; Mappes, Grace; Gasparyan, Davit; Novikov, Daria; Stepanenko, Kateryna; Trotter, Nate (26 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 26, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    27. ^ a b Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Gibson, Olivia; Gasparyan, Davit; Kagan, Frederick W.; Trotter, Nate; Runkel, William (22 February 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 22, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    28. ^ Harward, Christina; Hird, Karolina; Wolkov, Nicole; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W.; Runkel, William (22 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 22, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    29. ^ Wolkov, Nicole; Evans, Angelica; Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Kagan, Frederick W.; Trotter, Nate; Runkel, William (16 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 16, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    30. ^ a b Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Harward, Christina; Barros, George; Runkel, William (23 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 23, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    31. ^ a b Harward, Christina; Evans, Angelica; Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Novikov, Daria; Barros, George; Trotter, Nate (24 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 24, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    32. ^ "Russians and North Koreans attack near Basivka in the Sumy region". Militarnyi. 13 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    33. ^ "Росіяни намагаються закріпитися у прикордонних селах Сумщини". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 28 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    34. ^ "На Сумщині декілька бійців взяли у полон ціле відділення росіян". Militarnyi (in Ukrainian). 28 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    35. ^ "Russian troops stormed the border in Sumy region". Militarnyi. 20 February 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    36. ^ Шорохова, Ангеліна (3 March 2025). "Прикордонники нищать ворожі укриття, де ховаються окупанти на Сумському напрямку". Censor.net (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    37. ^ Гергелюк, Ольга (9 March 2025). "Українські дрони наздоганяють і знищують окупантів, які пересуваються на квадроциклах". Censor.net (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    38. ^ "Ukrainian General Staff denies Putin's claims on Russians breaking through into Ukraine from Kursk Oblast". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    39. ^ "Ukraine denies Russian claims of border breach in Sumy region". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    40. ^ Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Ukraine Denies Putin Claim Of Fresh Cross-border Attack". barrons. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    41. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 19, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    42. ^ "Росіяни загальмували біля Покровська й прориваються на Курщині. Огляд фронту". BBC News Україна (in Ukrainian). 21 February 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    43. ^ "AFU halted Russian troop breakthrough near village of Novenke in Sumy region. Enemy continues its assault attempts – General Staff". Censor.net. 28 February 2025.
    44. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 2, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
    45. ^ "Russian troops keep Ukrainian logistics under fire control in Kursk Oblast – DeepState". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    46. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 7, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
    47. ^ "Russia Claims Counteroffensive Into Ukraine's Sumy Region". The Moscow Times. 9 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
    48. ^ "Russia advances in Ukraine's Sumy region as Kyiv struggles to hold seized areas of Kursk". France24. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
    49. ^ Kitachayev, Bashir (21 March 2025). "How Likely Is a Fresh Russian Offensive on Ukraine's Sumy Region?". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
    50. ^ Harward, Christina; Wolkov, Nicole; Mappes, Grace; Novikov, Daria; Barros, George; Kagan, Frederick W.; Runkel, William (12 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 12, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    51. ^ "Russia trying to gain foothold in Ukraine's Sumy region, border guard says". Reuters. 10 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    52. ^ "Russian troops attempt to consolidate positions near Basivka in Sumy Oblast – video". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    53. ^ "Russians try quad bikes to seize village in Sumy Oblast, but face swift defeat". New Voice. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    54. ^ Wolkov, Nicole; Mappes, Grace; Evans, Angelica; Gibson, Olivia; Barros, George (15 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 15, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
    55. ^ Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Harward, Christina; Barros, George; Runkel, William (23 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 23, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    56. ^ "Russia 'reaches Ukraine border area' in battle for Kursk". The Telegraph. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    57. ^ Evans, Angelica; Wolkov, Nicole; Mappes, Grace; Gibson, Olivia; Gasparyan, Davit; Hird, Karolina; Trotter, Nate; Runkel, William (27 March 2025). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 27, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    58. ^ "Ukraine's top general says Russia stepping up effort to attack Sumy region". Reuters. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
    59. ^ "Russia claims to capture Sumy Oblast border village". The Kyiv Independent. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
    60. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 29, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
    61. ^ "No border breakthrough recorded in Sumy region, but Russia is operating with small assault groups - Demchenko". Ukrainian National News (UNN). 29 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
    62. ^ "Ukraine Denies Reports Of Russian Breakthrough In Sumy Region". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
    63. ^ "Five children injured due to Russian air strike on Sumy border". www.pravda.com.ua. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    64. ^ "Rescuers evacuate over 30 people from Sumy region's border area". www.ukrinform.net. 22 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
    65. ^ "Russians injure civilian during evacuation in Sumy Oblast – video". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
    66. ^ "Russian Forces Attempting to Cross Border in Sumy Region - Oj". odessa-journal.com. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
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