Russia occupies four empty border villages in Sumy Oblast

Late on 26 May, Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, confirmed that Russian forces now control four settlements in the northern region of Ukraine. According to his Facebook post, the occupied locations include Novenke and Basivka of Yunakivka community, and Veselivka and Zhuravka in the Khotin community.

Hryhorov emphasized that residents of these villages had long been evacuated, stating there is no threat to civilians. The official did not specify when Russian forces took control of the settlements.

Fighting continues near the occupied zone

Hryhorov also reported ongoing clashes on the outskirts of Vodolahy, and near Volodymyrivka, Bilovody, Kostiantynivka, and Kindrativka in the Hotin community, as well as around Loknya in the Yunakivka community.

"The enemy continues attempts to advance in order to create a so-called 'buffer zone'," he wrote.

According to Hryhorov,

“The Ukrainian Defense Forces and all components of the defense system are keeping the situation under control, delivering precise fire strikes on the enemy. Our defenders are firmly repelling the enemy’s attacks and preventing further advances into Sumy Oblast.”

Territorial control estimates

The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState, maintaining an interactive map of the war zone, estimates that the areas of 62.6 km² and 0.69 km² are currently under Russian occupation in the region, with an additional 36.98 km² marked as a gray zone where neither side maintains firm control.