Russia captures more Ukrainian territory amid fears of new offensive

Ukrainian officials ordered evacuations in 11 additional villages in the northern Sumy region on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as Russian forces continued to capture more Ukrainian territory and fears mount over a possible new ground offensive by Moscow.

According to The Guardian, these new orders add to the more than 200 settlements in Sumy already under evacuation.

This reflects the increasingly volatile situation along the northern front.

Russia pushed deeper into Ukrainian territory, seizing control of two more villages in Sumy, while launching a barrage of missiles and drones that killed at least two people.

Ukrainian authorities reported that one of the victims was a nine-year-old girl in the eastern Zaporizhzhia region,

They also reported that another man died in a separate attack in the southern port city of Kherson.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that about 50,000 Russian troops have amassed near the Sumy border.

He said this buildup is a clear indication that Russia is preparing a large-scale ground assault.

Zelensky maintained it is potentially to create a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, their troops captured the village of Novopil in the eastern Donetsk region and the village of Vodolahy in Sumy.

These advances signal Russia’s strategic focus on both eastern and northern fronts as the conflict continues into its third year.

Ukraine’s air force said that Russia launched 109 drones and five missiles during overnight strikes.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted many of them, but not all.

The missile strike that killed the young girl in Zaporizhzhia also injured a 16-year-old and caused significant structural damage.

The damages include the destruction of one home and damage to several others, vehicles, and outbuildings, according to Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov.

In Kherson, Russian shelling caused further fatalities and destruction, marking another deadly day of attacks.

In retaliation, Ukraine launched drone strikes in western Russia, injuring 14 people, including civilians.

The attacks targeted the town of Rylsk and the village of Artakovo in Russia’s Kursk region, which borders Sumy.

These ongoing strikes by both sides are occurring while peace negotiations hang in the balance.

Moscow has proposed resuming direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, but Kyiv has responded with caution.

Ukrainian officials have insisted that Russia must first present a promised ceasefire proposal in writing before any talks can move forward.

Russia had earlier claimed it would deliver a memorandum outlining its terms to end the conflict, which began in February 2022.

However, it has yet to provide this document.

Ukraine, on the other hand, said it has already submitted a proposal to Russia detailing its terms for peace.

Zelenskyy criticized Russia for “undermining diplomacy” by withholding its peace terms.

“For some reason, the Russians are concealing this document.

This is an absolutely bizarre position. There is no clarity about the format,” he posted on Telegram.

Moscow maintains that it will present its peace terms during the proposed meeting in Istanbul.

However, the lack of transparency has fueled skepticism in Kyiv and among international observers.

The broader diplomatic effort has also seen involvement from other nations, with Turkey offering to host talks and act as a mediator.

Also, the United States under President Donald Trump pushing for a ceasefire as a central part of its foreign policy agenda.

Despite heightened international pressure for a ceasefire, tangible progress remains limited.

Earlier in the month, a significant prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine saw around 1,000 individuals returned to their respective sides.

While hailed as a major confidence-building step, the exchange has not yet translated into more comprehensive diplomatic breakthroughs.

The European Union has accused Russia of stalling ceasefire negotiations to secure further territorial gains, a claim the Kremlin denies.

Moscow, in turn, accuses Ukraine of dragging its feet in the talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far resisted international calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

This has raised doubts about his willingness to de-escalate the war.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now ongoing for more than three years, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and left millions displaced.

At present, Russian forces control roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, with active fighting continuing across multiple fronts.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook