In Sumy, Ukrainians relentlessly counter Russian attacks, stepping in wherever threat flares up

In Ukraine’s Sumy region, the military is acting like “fire extinguishers,” constantly suppressing and repelling Russian attacks along the northern border, which differs significantly from the open landscapes of Donbas. The terrain provides more cover and fortified positions, yet the brutal nature of Russian warfare remains unchanged, according to The Times. Russian forces are attempting to seize territory near the Sumy border using quad bikes, prompting Ukraine’s 4th Ranger Regiment to intercept and counter these moves. Originally formed in March last year for reconnaissance and assault missions, the Rangers now find themselves more frequently rushing to crisis points, as described by their commander, who goes by the call sign “Bakhcha.” He noted that Russian forces are constantly probing defenses, launching daily raids on villages in search of weak spots. The nickname “Bakhcha” means “melon garden” in Ukrainian, but there’s nothing soft about his unit’s mission. Despite ongoing international discussions about a ceasefire, Russia continues to escalate its offensive, pushing forward on multiple fronts , with Sumy appearing to be a key target. The surrounding fields are now fortified with “dragon’s teeth” anti-tank barriers and trench networks to resist Russian advances. A source in Ukraine’s defense ministry told The Times that Russia aims to create a buffer zone near the border but lacks the capacity to capture Sumy itself. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces are conducting cross-border operations in Russia’s Kursk region to disrupt enemy logistics and prevent troop buildups. Using reconnaissance drones, the Rangers locate Russian supply routes, which are then targeted by American-supplied HIMARS artillery systems. As usual, Ukrainian troops are outnumbered. Russia has deployed two so-called elite brigades, the 155th and 810th Marine units, both with previous combat experience in Donbas and Zaporizhzhia, respectively. Yet according to Bakhcha, these units have little impact now due to their heavy losses and poorly trained reinforcements since mid-2022. Ukrainian forces are also fighting the Russian 76th Airborne Brigade, another elite formation. However, Bakhcha reported that they, too, are undertrained and ill-equipped. In one recent encounter, Ukrainian troops halted a quad bike raid by 12 Russian soldiers using drones and artillery. Only one survived, convict-turned-soldier who had joined the military just two weeks earlier while serving time in Saratov. Because of limited night-vision capabilities, Russian forces often carry out such raids during daylight hour. According to The Times, the Bakhcha regiment inflicts daily casualties on Russian troops, with around a dozen enemy soldiers lost each day along their sector of the front.