Russian forces claim strategic gain in Sumy region offensive

    
• The Russians report that their troops have entered Junakowka in the Sumy region of Ukraine. This town was used by Kyiv as a logistical hub for transferring troops to Russia's Kursk region.
• According to Russian media reports, the Russians managed to break Ukrainian forces' defenses on the Pokrovsk-Konstantynivka route and capture several villages north of the road.
• Russian forces have extended fire control over the road between Junakowka and Oleshyna. This road was used by Kyiv to supply Ukrainian units on this section of the front.

According to information from Russian sources, the Russians have entered Junakowka in the Sumy region. The town served as a crucial logistical point for the Ukrainian armed forces and was used to transfer troops to Russia's Kursk region.

According to the Center for Eastern Studies, the Russian army has been assaulting the Pokrovsk–Konstantynivka road for several days, capturing additional settlements on both sides of it. The Ukrainian group south of Konstantynivka is within striking range. The Russians are conducting operations towards this city from three directions: Chasov Yar (northeast), Toretsk (southeast), and Pokrovsk (southwest). However, the institute reports that defense in the area remains relatively strong, and the aggressor's progress is minimal.

A portion of Russian territory likely still under Ukrainian control measures about 4 square miles to the west of Tiotkino. The area is mostly swampy and is separated from the rest of the Kursk region by the floodplains of the Seym River. Ukrainians entered this area back in August 2024. The terrain has meant no fighting has occurred there.

Meanwhile, the Russians announced on Saturday that they are approaching Konstantynivka. Quoted by TASS, Russian military expert Andrei Marochko asserts that although it's too early to talk about encircling Konstantynivka, success may be near. "Our boys are working on this task quite seriously. The fact is that significant successes are now being achieved from the direction of Chasov Yar—directly from the settlement of Stupochki, which is actually entering the settlement of Konstantynivka. About 4 miles remain to the suburb of Konstantynivka," said Andrei Marochko.

According to Marochko, the Russian army is actively advancing southwest of Konstantynivka and has cut off the road leading to the city. "Systematic preparatory work is underway to liberate the settlement of Stepanovka, which is located southwest of Konstantynivka. So, generally speaking, we are working on the task of liberating this settlement," said Marochko.

According to reports from American experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces on Friday continued limited offensive actions in the northern Sumy region without making any progress. Unconfirmed information, relayed by a Russian military blogger, suggests that Russian troops entered fields east of Loknya, a locality situated northeast of the city of Sumy.

According to Onet, Russian armed forces reached south of the Pokrovsk-Konstantynivka route a year ago. This spring, Russian troops launched an offensive toward the route. Additional forces were transferred to the region from under Kurakhove. Troops quickly reached the road, but then the assault stalled.