Ukraine Launches Assault Near Yunakivka After Recapturing Andriyivka

Following the liberation of Andriyivka, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have begun assault operations toward the village of Yunakivka in the Sumy region.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, highlighted the offensive during a press meeting that Militarnyi’s correspondent attended.

Over the course of a week, Ukrainian units advanced between 200 and 700 meters, depending on the area, forcing Russian forces from their positions.

According to the DeepState military analysis website, about a third of Yunakivka currently remains in the “gray zone” — an area marked by active combat or contested control.

Russian tactics in the region, which rely heavily on small assault groups without armored support, enabled Ukraine’s counterattack.

Despite this, Ukrainian forces have made gains. In early June, the 225th Separate Assault Regiment reclaimed the village of Andriyivka, located roughly 5 kilometers from the Russian border in the Sumy region.

On June 13, one day before Andriyivka was officially declared liberated, Volodymyr Bitsak, Deputy Chairman of the Sumy Regional Council, reported that Russian offensive operations had been halted and that Ukrainian forces had begun to push back.

Shortly afterward, the 225th Regiment’s press service published a photo of documents belonging to a Russian major, Andriy Yartsev, born in 1974. Yartsev, who was killed in the fighting, served as battalion commander of the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Federation, which operated in this sector.

Soldiers of the 225th Regiment led by Oleg Shiryaev, Bakhmut, summer 2023. Photo credits: 225 Regiment

Alongside assault troops, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces are also contributing to the offensive, conducting sabotage and reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines.

In early June, Ukrainian special forces in the Sumy region destroyed a Russian group preparing for an assault.

Despite recent progress, the situation in the area remains challenging. DeepState analysts report intense fighting along the Novomykolaivka–Varachyne–Yablunivka–Yunakivka axis, where Russian forces are attempting to secure and fortify their positions.

“Particular attention should be paid to the area around Loknia, where Russian forces are trying to advance east of the village and entrench themselves in the forested terrain toward Sadky. If they manage to hold that ground, dislodging them could prove extremely difficult,” analysts warn.