Russia's Northeast Ukraine Push Aims to Establish Buffer Zone

Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine's Sumy region, seizing villages and potentially creating a buffer zone along the border, as part of Moscow's strategic plan to support border areas and distract Ukrainian forces from the main conflict in Donbas. Despite slow progress and Ukrainian defenses, the situation remains tense with ongoing attacks and evacuations, but a major breakthrough in Sumy appears unlikely in the near future.