Ukraine Strikes Back: Troops Liberate Village in Sumy, Push Forward in Pokrovsk
Ukrainian troops have reportedly liberated Andriivka, a village near the border in the Sumy region, and made advances in the Pokrovsk direction, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 14.
In his evening address, Zelensky reported on a briefing he had received from the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU), Oleksandr Syrsky, regarding the situation on the front lines and recent Ukrainian military operations.
“Special attention is focused on the Pokrovsk direction and our Sumy region, especially the border areas,” Zelensky said. “We are managing to push Russian forces out. I thank all our units for these tangible results.”
He specifically praised the 225th Separate Assault Regiment for offensive operations in the Sumy region, including the liberation of Andriivka.
Zelensky also commended the 425th Separate Assault Regiment for its progress in the Pokrovsk direction, and highlighted the 1st Separate Assault Regiment and the 82nd Separate Airborne Assault Brigade for their successes in battles across the Donetsk region.
He highlighted additional advances in the Kupyansk direction (Kharkiv region), crediting the 3rd Assault Brigade.
Zelensky also mentioned ongoing operations inside Russian territory, particularly in Kursk Oblast, and thanked the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade, and 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade for their bravery.
Earlier in the day, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had stabilized the Sumy front and halted Russian advances. He identified the fiercest battles as taking place near Andriivka, Kindrativka, Oleksiivka, Kostyantynivka, and Yunakivka.
However, independent confirmations of Andriivka’s liberation are not yet available. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has not verified Zelensky’s claim, nor does visual evidence confirm reports by Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets of a Ukrainian advance of approximately one kilometer near Oleksiivka and Andriivka.
Interactive maps published by the Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState on June 14 still show Andriivka as occupied by Russian forces.
ISW reported that Russian troops continued offensive actions in the Sumy region on June 14 but made no confirmed gains.
Russian shelling of the Sumy region has intensified since June 8. Zelensky said Ukrainian defenses are holding and have managed to push Russian forces back slightly.
Military journalist Yuriy Butusov said that Russian forces continue to advance in the region, citing a lack of established defensive lines. He warned that Russian troops could continue moving until they reach dense forested areas roughly 15-20 kilometers from Sumy city.
Roman Kostenko, Secretary of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence, said the Russian offensive in the Sumy region likely stems from Ukraine’s withdrawal from the Kursk bridgehead.
Source: Julia Struck