(Sumy) – Russian forces are intensifying their assault on Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, but cracks are showing behind enemy lines. Reports from military analysts and local observers paint a bleak picture for the invading troops, whose tactics rely heavily on relentless human wave attacks now dubbed “meat assaults”. These costly and brutal offensives are not delivering the breakthroughs the Kremlin expected.
According to Dmytro Zhmailo, executive director of the Ukrainian Centre for Security and Cooperation, Russian troops outnumber Ukraine’s defenders in the area, but their advance towards the city of Sumy is faltering. Speaking on Ukrainian national television, Zhmailo said that Russia’s approach appears to be aimed at exhausting Ukrainian defences through sheer numbers, even at catastrophic cost to their own ranks.
“There is dissatisfaction among the Russian soldiers with their generals,” Zhmailo revealed. “They will run out of people before they reach Sumy.” Russian commanders have reportedly thrown former convicts and poorly trained conscripts into the front, many of whom are already demoralised and resigned to dying on the battlefield.
At the same time, Russia is attempting to make life unbearable in Sumy by trying to move within artillery and drone range of the regional centre. The city, a vital logistical hub for Ukrainian forces, has already been the target of rocket attacks and drone strikes, which have left damage across residential areas and infrastructure.
Zhmailo noted that the plan to pressure Sumy is not new. A year ago, Ukraine launched the Kursk operation to hold Russian forces back. However, following the depletion of Ukraine’s long range weapon supplies, Russian forces intensified aerial and artillery bombardments across the border, particularly using guided bombs and first person view drones. These attacks have destroyed Ukrainian defensive positions and forced units to temporarily withdraw in some areas.
Despite this, there have been no new Russian gains in the Sumy region in recent days. Fierce fighting continues, and Ukrainian forces are actively targeting Russian supply lines to disrupt any further attempts to push forward.
According to Zhmailo, Russian forces are not operating with a clear or achievable objective. “They will continue to move as far as they can, and then decide retroactively whether they have met their goals. It is a chaotic approach driven more by propaganda than military logic.”
Ukraine’s defenders remain determined to hold Sumy and deny Russia the ability to turn the region into another smouldering war zone.
