Ukraine Has Pushed the Russians Further Away From Sumy, Stopping Offensive

A growing number of reports from multiple sources confirm that the much ballyhooed Russian summer offensive towards Sumy has been halted by Ukrainian troops and that the Ukrainians are opportunistically counter-attacking when it suits their purposes. 

The larger implication is that despite its continued advantages in men and ammunition, the Russians are incapable of mounting any attack which might result in a break through. JL

The Kyiv Independent reports:

Ukrainian forces have pushed the Russian army further away from Sumy. Ukrainian troops advanced near the village of Oleksiivka, located less than 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Sumy, and liberated the village of Andriivka, which had been captured by Russia in early June. Moscow launched its new summer campaign in May, aiming to push deeper into Ukraine's northeastern and eastern regions. Ukraine also stopped the Russian advance along the Yunakivka-Yablunivka-Novomykolayivka-Oleksiivka-Kindrativka line and the border with Russia near Kursk Oblast. "The Russian plan for an offensive in Sumy Oblast is not succeeding."

Key developments on June 30:

• Ukrainian forces push Russian army away from Sumy, General Staff says
• Ukrainian military again denies reports on Russian troops entering Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
• After months of stalling, Russia blames Ukraine, US for slow pace of peace talks
• Germany vows to pursue 'every path' to boost Ukraine's air defenses, FM Wadephul says in Kyiv

Ukrainian forces have stabilized the situation in Sumy Oblast and pushed the Russian army further away from Sumy, the region's capital, Ukraine's General Staff reported on June 30.

Moscow launched its new summer campaign in May, aiming to push deeper into Ukraine's northeastern and eastern regions and disregarding Kyiv's calls for an unconditional ceasefire.

Ukrainian troops advanced near the village of Oleksiivka, located less than 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Sumy, and liberated the village of Andriivka, which had been captured by Russia in early June, the statement read.

A map of Ukraine's Sumy Oblast (Nizar al-Rifal/The Kyiv Independent)

In the meantime, Ukraine also stopped the Russian advance along the Yunakivka-Yablunivka-Novomykolayivka-Oleksiivka-Kindrativka line and the border with Russia near Kursk Oblast, according to the General Staff.

Russia has deployed its best brigades on this section of the front line and is using long-range artillery, aircraft, and attack drones, the General Staff said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky also said on June 30 that Ukrainian troops had halted the Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast.

"The Russian plan for an offensive in Sumy Oblast is not succeeding — thanks to every Ukrainian unit operating in the area," Zelensky said after a meeting with the military leadership and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

 

Ukrainian military again denies reports on Russian troops entering Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

The Ukrainian military on June 30 denied the latest reports that Russian troops had entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Since June 29, the Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState has marked a "gray" zone in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, identifying potential fighting in this section of the front line. Near the village of Dachne in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the zone extends almost a kilometer into the region.

Meanwhile, Kremlin propagandists claimed on Telegram that Russian troops had captured Dachne.

The estimated Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast as of June 29, 2025. (DeepState/OpenStreet Map)

The reports were denied by spokespeople of two Ukrainian brigades and the Khortytsia group of forces on June 30, Suspilne reported.

"There are very active battles in the villages located near the administrative border of the region," Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, told Suspilne, adding that Ukraine is holding the defense line near the villages of Yalta, Komar, and Shevchenkove.

Tregubov added that Russian troops had not entered Dnipropetrovsk Oblast as of noon on June 30.

The press service of the 3rd brigade of the National Guard, stationed in the nearby Pokrovsk sector of the front line, also denied the information about the breakthrough.

Nazar Voitenkov, spokesperson for the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, based in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, also said that the Russian army had made no advances into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

"We are holding the defense line. The line is constantly changing, but the enemy has not broken through," Voitenkov said.

Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's counter-disinformation center, said on Telegram that fighting is taking place near the region's administrative border, and Russian FPV (first-person-view) drones are also flying into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast,

But despite the heavy battles, there is no breakthrough, he added.