"If we are talking about Sumy region, there are no fortifications on the border with Russia either. It is almost impossible to build fortifications a few kilometers from the border. At the moment, the Russians have concentrated a group of troops totaling more than 10,000 in the Kursk region near the border with Sumy. In the Belgorod region, from where they continue their offensive on Lipki and Vovchansk, more than 40 thousand occupants' personnel are concentrated", Kovalenko said.

The expert emphasized that today there are no threats to the encirclement of Sumy.

"Currently, a group of troops numbering more than 40 thousand servicemen is involved in the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, which is four times more than they have concentrated in the Kursk region. From this we can conclude that the Russians may launch an offensive in Sumy region, but only in the border area. These could be sabotage and reconnaissance operations in a very similar scenario to the fighting in Kharkiv region. There is no threat of occupation of Sumy and Sumy region. There is no threat of encirclement of Sumy either", he added.

• On Monday, May 13, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov said he expected a new offensive by the Russian army in Sumy region.
• On May 21, the spokesman for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Andriy Demchenko, said that the offensive of the Russian occupiers in Sumy region cannot be ruled out, which could happen "at any time".