Russia is advancing on Sumy, the battle that will decide the outcome.

Ukrainian armed forces are in shock as the Russians advance on Sumy; this could be the next decisive battleground.

The Russian Armed Forces (RFAF) have shifted the battlefield from the traditional "positional defense" strategy to the " geopolitical tightening" strategy. Fifty thousand elite troops, more than a dozen heavily armored brigades and an "armored highway" heading straight to Kiev - this is not an exercise, but the opening of the iron gate to Eastern Europe, ordered by President Putin himself.

The choice of Sumy as the “main filming location” is not accidental. It has profound strategic significance – not only a move to encircle Ukraine, but also a test of the West’s “strategic endurance”. To put it bluntly, today’s Russia-Ukraine war is no longer a simple war, but a game revolving around the fundamental issue of “who will dominate the new frontiers of Eastern Europe”. Sumy is just a node in a chess game, but once this node is broken, the situation of the game will change dramatically. At present, this battlefield is quietly burning.

Let’s look at the specifics first. The RFAF’s deployment in the Sumy direction could be considered a textbook example of tactics. 14 combat brigades, 420 main battle tanks, more than 1,600 armored vehicles and 380 artillery pieces – roughly the same firepower as the US Army when it invaded Iraq in 2003.

More importantly, behind this “combination punching and kicking” style of attack, there are deeper strategic intentions. Do you think this is just a simple suppression by military force? No, this is a comprehensive suppression; from logistics to military force, from air to ground.

Satellite images show that the RFAF has built six missile sites and seven artillery sites on the Sumy border, established five new UAV command centers, and built five field airfields. The front line provided 7,000 tons of ammunition, tens of thousands of tons of fuel, medical supplies, field food, and even command towers, communication towers, and field hospitals for the operation. How can this be called a “simple battle”? This is preparation for a long, protracted, and extremely dangerous war.

President Putin and his staff are clearly not losing patience. In recent years, his strategic rhythm has been clear - "slow attack and fast encirclement to weaken the opponent". What he must defeat is not only Kiev, but also the strategic patience of the United States and its NATO allies.

Sumy has wide open terrain and no natural barriers. It was once the breadbasket of Ukraine, but has now become a battlefield for Russian heavy armor. From Sumy, the rail and road networks are unimpeded, allowing the RFAF to penetrate deep into Kiev.

What is more important is that this area is only a few dozen kilometers away from the Kursk iron ore mining region, which is of strategic importance to Russia. Once the RFAF fully controls Sumy, it will be equivalent to building a "mineral wall" behind itself.

Moscow’s strategy is not impulsive, but the result of careful consideration. Let’s be frank: Ukraine’s current situation is not just passive, it is on the brink of collapse. Basivka, the first line of defense in Sumy, was captured by the RFAF in less than 24 hours.

This is no coincidence, as the RFAF used heavy bombs FAB-1500. Each bomb weighs 1.5 tons and can destroy the positions of the Ukrainian army to the "surface of the moon". Then, UAV FPV and artillery fire will support the rapid advance of armored vehicles.

This tactic is the classic three-dimensional combat style of the former Soviet army, which is "heavy artillery clearing the way, armored penetration and special forces harassment", making it very difficult for the Ukrainian army (AFU) to fight back.

The Sumy front may be Ukraine's toughest test in more than three years. It is not just a battle, but a warning: if Sumy falls, the defenses in eastern Ukraine will collapse completely, and it is only a matter of time before Kharkov is surrounded.

Will there be a domino effect in the Ukrainian battlefield then? Yes, even the industrial city of Dnipropetrovsk will come under Russian artillery fire. Such a battle will cause a "chain collapse". Once it collapses, it will not only lead to "local losses", but may also cause "regime shock".

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted that the end result in Ukraine will not be “total victory,” but “a compromise with losses.” Now that moment of compromise is drawing closer, and the rumble of Russian tank tracks is hastening it.

From the Sumy front, we should look not only at the front line of the advance, but also at the political intentions behind it. Russia chose to attack strongly at this point, trying to influence the initiative at the negotiating table by turning the tide on the battlefield.

Although Ukraine has resisted fiercely, it is clear that it is “very tired”, as the Ukrainian President called on the West to support a one-month ceasefire; while Western support is blocked by “barriers of national interests”. Today, Ukraine has few strategic options and Western support for Kiev is increasingly limited.

More than three years of war have pushed Ukraine to the brink, and Russia is striking the final blow. While the West is cautiously keeping its distance to avoid further escalation, the direction of the situation is becoming increasingly clear. What remains to be seen is whether the Sumy barrier will collapse, break, or slowly erode in the trenches.

The end of a war is never about “victory,” but who can hold out until the other side surrenders. And now, Ukraine is “one step away” from such a moment, if it does not adapt its strategies. Sumy could be the decisive battleground for both sides. (photo source: Military Review, Kyiv Post, RIA Novosti).

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/nga-dang-tien-vao-sumy-tran-chien-quyet-dinh-cuc-dien-post1545036.html