Ukraine’s army is closing in on another Russian stronghold in the Sumy region, as Kyiv’s forces continue to take back swathes of territory in the northeast. The Kremlin launched a concerted offensive across the border in spring, in an attempt to establish a buffer zone with the aim of preventing future Ukrainian incursions into Russia.

Having been wrong footed and caught totally by surprise by Ukraine‘s lightning raid into Kursk last August, Putin’s generals were determined there would be no repeat of the humiliation. Initially, Russia‘s army succeeded in taking considerable amounts of territory as troops poured into Ukraine‘s Sunny region from across the border. However, over the summer Zelensky’s forces have battled back and launched their own counteroffensive.

Ukrainian troops have methodically isolated Russian units, cutting off their supply routes and forcing them to cede territory with the result that the Kremlin’s spring offensive is now facing collapse.

In their latest advance, Kyiv’s forces have cut off the village of Oleksiivka on three sides, leaving only a narrow tree line for Russian soldiers to move supplies and reinforcements.

The supply corridor is coming under constant Ukrainian drone attacks, leaving many killed and injured.

Russian sources have acknowledged that command and control have effectively broken down near Oleksiivka. Battles are taking place on the southern outskirts of the village, as the Russians desperately try to cling on.

Putin’s commanders have tried to send reinforcements to the village from the neighbouring settlement of Kindrativka, but they were spotted by drones and wiped out.

Many were killed as they attempted to cross a reservoir under heavy aerial bombardment, needlessly sacrificed by their officers.

Putin has reacted furiously to the poor performance of his army in Sumy and Kharkiv by dismissing its commanding officer, Colonel General Alexander Lapin, from active duty service.

Lapin already had a track record of failure, losing Lyman in 2022 during Ukraine’s Kharkiv counteroffensive.

He was also in charge of Russian troops in Kursk at the time when Ukraine launched its stunning incursion last year.

In dismissing Lapin outright, Putin has broken with his normal practice of reassigning incompetent commanders to different posts in a bid to avoid discontent within the army.