Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that Russia has effectively launched an offensive on the Sumy and Kharkiv regions.

He stated this in an interview with LB.ua.

Syrskyi noted that over the past three weeks, Russian forces have been reinforcing their offensive units and have successfully doubled the size of the group designated to breach Ukraine’s defensive positions.

Additionally, he confirmed the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who, during his visit to a meeting of European leaders in Paris to discuss support for Ukraine, stated that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, the enemy was preparing an offensive on new front lines.

“I can say that the President is absolutely right, and this offensive has effectively already begun,” Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated.

In his opinion, the plan for the offensive aims to create a buffer zone in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.

Furthermore, during the interview, Syrskyi noted that the enemy has a large mobilization reserve consisting of 5 million trained soldiers, with a total of 20 million in reserve. He also mentioned that the number of Russian troops in Ukraine has increased approximately fivefold.

As of January 1, 2025, the Russians had 603,000 troops; today, this figure has increased to 623,000.

In addition to Russia’s attempt to break through the state border of Ukraine, they are putting pressure on the positions of the defense forces in the Kharkiv region in the Lyman-Kupiansk sector.

In this sector, the enemy managed to establish control over 173 km² of territory in the first quarter of 2025 and seize the village of Kruhliakivka.

Currently, the focus of forces and the number of assaults indicate that the Russians are seeking to take control of settlements in the direction of Borova.

Meanwhile, there are no major changes in the enemy’s advance in Vovchansk, as well as near Hlyboke in the Kharkiv region.