Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the creation of a security buffer zone on the border with Ukraine, said that taking control of the city of Sumy is not the current task of Russian troops, but he "in principle does not rule out" such a development. Putin emphasized that the security zone is being created to protect Russian border regions from attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), but its depth will depend on the operational situation.

The context of the statement is related to the ongoing hostilities on the Russian-Ukrainian border. According to the BBC, since March 2025, Russia has stepped up its offensive in the Sumy region, occupying more than 150 square kilometers of territory, including the villages of Yablonovka and Vodolahy.