Ukraine’s top military commander, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has declared that a new wave of Russian offensive operations has begun in the northeastern parts of the country. The areas of primary concern are Kharkiv and Sumy regions, both of which border Russia. This fresh escalation marks a serious shift in battlefield dynamics and could significantly impact the strategic balance in the months ahead.

According to Syrskyi, Russian forces have nearly doubled the number of attacks across key frontline zones in the past week. He characterized these actions as the start of a new phase of the war, with the Kremlin seemingly aiming to regain momentum after months of attritional fighting. Ukrainian troops are now under intense pressure as Russian advances continue, especially in sectors where fortifications are thinner or rotations have left vulnerabilities.

In a particularly concerning development, Syrskyi revealed that Ukrainian troops are close to being pushed out of Russian territory in the Kursk region—a position they had managed to hold since a surprise counteroffensive in August 2024. This would mark a symbolic and tactical setback, as such cross-border positions have allowed Ukraine to disrupt Russian operations and divert resources.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces maintain a precarious foothold in Russia’s Belgorod region. Though these incursions into Russian territory have been limited, they hold psychological and strategic value by demonstrating Ukraine’s capacity to strike across the border and challenge Russian control in its own rear areas.

This new offensive comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned earlier this year that Russia was preparing to escalate attacks in the northeast. His comments now appear prescient, as Moscow seems to be deploying additional troops and equipment in a coordinated push. The apparent aim is to stretch Ukrainian defenses while exploiting battlefield fatigue and ammunition shortages among Kyiv’s forces.

The war, which began with sweeping Russian offensives and later saw Ukraine reclaiming large swaths of territory, has now settled into a grinding war of attrition. Russian troops are reportedly employing relentless infantry assaults, inching forward and capturing small but strategically valuable territories. Ukrainian commanders, meanwhile, are grappling with difficult decisions about where to concentrate limited resources.

With spring now unfolding, analysts believe Russia is attempting to seize the initiative before Ukraine’s forces can regroup and receive additional Western military aid. The outcome of this renewed offensive may heavily influence the trajectory of the conflict through the rest of 2025.

As the situation intensifies, Ukrainian authorities are calling for renewed international support, emphasizing that delaying aid could result in irreversible losses on the battlefield. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Ukraine can withstand this latest assault and prepare a counterstrike—or whether Russian forces will succeed in redrawing the frontlines once again.

Source: Reuters