Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia is transferring approximately 30,000 troops from the Sumy direction to three other front sectors after failing to achieve success in the northern region.

Accorrding to Zelenskyy, Russia began moving troops to the Zaporizhzhia and Pokrovsk directions.

The president outlined Russia’s preparations for offensive operations across three main directions: Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Novopavlivka. According to Zelenskyy’s assessment, Russia plans to deploy approximately 15,000 additional troops to the Zaporizhzhia direction, around 7,000 to Pokrovsk, and about 5,000 to Novopavlivka.

Of the 53,000 Russian forces concentrated on the Sumy direction, approximately 30,000 will be redirected to these three sectors, according to the president’s assessment.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Russia’s strongest brigades currently positioned on the Kursk direction will be among those redeploying. “We believe this is the main source of troops, these are their strongest brigades that are standing on the Kursk direction, they will be moving,” he added.

The president provided a timeline for expected Russian preparations, saying they will prepare for offensive actions after the 15th and will be ready with these brigades by September. “We believe they will be ready by September with these brigades. We believe that with additional [forces] they may be ready in November,” Zelenskyy said.

According to the president, these three directions were targeted by Russia a year ago, and Russian forces are operating according to the same plans and maps. Zelenskyy said that the offensive mission on Zaporizhzhia and Pokrovsk was delayed by a year due to the Kursk operation.

The president suggested that throughout this month, Russian forces will attempt to demonstrate progress on all directions to exert political pressure on Ukraine, seeking various concessions.

The announcement comes as Ukrainian forces have achieved several tactical successes in Sumy Oblast. On 12 June, the president reported that Ukrainian defenders were “gradually pushing back” Russian forces in the region. Two days later, on 14 June, Zelenskyy announced the liberation of Andriivka in Sumy Oblast. Most recently, on 27 July, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the liberation of Kindrativka in the Khotyn community.

Russian advance near Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, may soon cut the city’s main supply route, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on 6 August. Russian forces likely reached the western outskirts of the city and secured positions from which they can threaten key ground lines of communication.

Russian troops likely seize Sobolivka and Myrne

Geolocated footage from 6 August shows Russian forces advanced south of Sobolivka, immediately west of Kupiansk. ISW assessed that they likely seized both Sobolivka and Myrne, just north of it. A Russian milblogger claimed troops are close to interdicting the H-26 Kupiansk–Shevchenkove highway — the main Ukrainian supply line into the city — located about one kilometer south of Sobolivka.

Envelopment instead of direct assault

ISW noted that Russian forces may be preparing to envelop Kupiansk rather than attack it directly. This fits their recent pattern of flanking settlements instead of launching frontal assaults, using tactical pressure to disrupt Ukrainian logistics and defenses.

Three possible next moves

ISW outlined three possible Russian actions after these advances. They may push west toward Shevchenkove or northwest toward Velykyi Burluk to build a buffer in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Alternatively, forces could shift to the Oskil River’s east bank to support operations in Luhansk Oblast, or redeploy to Kostyantynivka, Pokrovsk, or Novopavlivka to aid efforts in Donetsk Oblast.

“Ukrainian forces advanced near Chasiv Yar. Russian forces advanced in northern Kharkiv and western Zaporizhzhia oblasts and near Kupiansk, Lyman, Siversk, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk,” ISW added.

Russia’s total infiltration in Pokrovsk has failed as Ukraine’s top general Syrskyi says Russian attempts to slip inside were stopped fast. The commander-in-chief described how the army adapts to this tactic on several threatened directions and why the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most difficult areas.

Ukraine blocks total infiltration in Pokrovsk

Syrskyi wrote on Facebook on 2 August that Russian forces try a tactic of the so-called “total infiltration,” aiming to push through defenses without a large assault. He said these efforts include hidden movements toward Pokrovsk and other parts of Donetsk Oblast. According to him, these infiltration moves have been crushed before they reach their targets.

Syrskyi explained that he spent the day visiting all command posts of the Armed Forces and National Guard units holding the Pokrovsk direction. He said he met the commander of drone forces, corps commanders, and brigade commanders. During these meetings, they reviewed the battlefield conditions and planned how to strengthen defenses in areas where Russian pressure is growing.

The general said the situation is currently most dangerous on Pokrovsk, Dobropillia, and Novopavlivka directions. Russian forces seek weak spots, intensify their activity, and try to capture important Ukrainian urban areas. Syrskyi said Ukraine is countering total infiltration with special mobile reserves, whose role is to search for and destroy these teams before they can create problems inside the lines.

He stressed that the focus remains on improving fortifications. Syrskyi discussed with commanders how to reinforce positions with engineering work, minefields, barriers, and underground structures that protect against drones. He said this work continues but must be more active, broad, and complex.

Advancements

The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its 2 August daily reports that “Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Russian forces recently advanced near Toretsk.”

Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve raised 70% of our funding goal to launch a platform connecting Ukraine’s defense tech with the world – David vs. Goliath defense blog. It will support Ukrainian engineers who are creating innovative battlefield solutions and we are inviting you to join us on the journey.

Our platform will showcase the Ukrainian defense tech underdogs who are Ukraine’s hope to win in the war against Russia, giving them the much-needed visibility to connect them with crucial expertise, funding, and international support.

We’re one final push away from making this platform a reality.

Join us in building this platform on Patreon