Fighting Continues in Kursk and Sum Regions: Analyzing the Situation and Future Prospects
The eastern front of Ukraine remains tense and dynamically evolving. While active military operations are ongoing in the Kursk region, the neighboring Sum region currently experiences silence — but this does not mean stabilization or the end of the conflict. On the contrary, experts repeatedly emphasize that the situation remains fragile and potentially dangerous. Pavlo Narozhny, founder of the charity organization 'Reactive Mail' and military analyst, stated during a live broadcast on Radio NV that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to effectively hold a strategically important foothold in the Kursk region. He described this as a 'thorn in the side' of the Russians. This area not only creates a buffer zone protecting inland Ukrainian regions from possible Russian advances but also covers the southern direction, including Sum and part of Kharkiv regions. According to Narozhny, without these positions, cities like Sumy and Kharkiv would be at greater risk, facing a higher chance of breakthroughs and encirclement of Ukrainian units. He emphasized that it is premature to speak of the conclusion of the Kursk operation. The military expert pointed out that Russian forces continue to attempt to break through Ukraine's defenses in this sector, actively engaging in fighting in Yunakovka and probing Ukrainian positions. Ukraine's defenders counterattack and push back the enemy, but Narozhny warned that despite the decreased intensity of clashes and reduced pressure from Russia, the situation remains potentially dangerous and could escalate again — Moscow continues planning future attacks. As for the Sum region, the pace of Russian advances has significantly slowed down, but calm has not yet fully returned. Experts warn that Russian forces still test Ukrainian defenses, with ongoing fierce fighting around Yunakovka. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi claims Ukraine has managed to halt Russian advances, yet the enemy’s troop numbers are nearly three times larger than Ukrainian forces. Experts also sound the alarm over fortification issues: poor quality of fortifications and engineering structures pose a risk of further territorial losses. The state of defenses remains a critical concern because inadequate fortifications undermine Ukraine’s strategic stability. The question of readiness for new large-scale assaults and strengthening engineering defenses remains highly relevant. More details on these issues can be found in Yurii Kasyanov's article 'For whom is war, and for whom TikTok: about the quality of state decisions during wartime' at ZN.UA, emphasizing that the condition of fortifications is crucial not only for civilian safety but also for the success of Ukraine’s overall military operation.