### Ukraine Orders Evacuation of Border Villages Amid Rising Russian Threat

Ukrainian authorities have mandated the evacuation of 11 villages in the Sumy region, which borders Russia, in response to escalating assaults. This directive follows President Volodymyr Zelensky's warning about a significant buildup of Russian troops on the other side of the border.

Sumy was previously used by Ukrainian forces for an incursion into Russia's Kursk region last year, an effort that ultimately proved unsuccessful. The Sumy administration justified the evacuation decision by highlighting the continuous danger to civilian lives due to the bombardments targeting border communities.

The Russian defense ministry reported on Saturday that its forces have captured another village in Sumy, known as Vodolagy or Vodolahy in Ukrainian. In recent weeks, Russia has claimed control of several villages in the northeastern region. Ukrainian President Zelensky noted that Moscow has amassed over 50,000 soldiers nearby, signaling the likelihood of an impending offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his intent to establish a buffer zone in Sumy, the region that played a role in Ukraine’s attempt to penetrate Kursk last year. According to Andriy Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine's border guard service, Russia is gearing up for an assault on Sumy. He attributed this build-up to the combat engagements between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops who had crossed into the Kursk region last year.

Russia now controls nearly all of the Kursk region and about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory since initiating its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties on both sides, encompassing both military personnel and civilians.

Diplomatic efforts, led primarily by Washington, to establish a ceasefire have yet to bear fruit, with both Kyiv and Moscow accusing each other of hindering peace. The Kremlin has proposed continuing negotiations in Istanbul on Monday, following a round of talks on May 16 that culminated in a significant prisoner exchange. Kyiv's participation in the upcoming Istanbul meeting remains uncertain, as it demands that Moscow agree to an immediate ceasefire.