2025-05-20: According to reports from Russian exile media, the Russian armed forces recently reported territorial gains in the Ukrainian region of Sumy. According to media reports from Tuesday (20 May), the Russian army claims to have captured the village of Marine. Due to the current situation, the Ukrainian authorities have reportedly begun evacuating more than 200 villages near the border in the Sumy region. So far, 52,000 people have been brought to safety and a total of 86,000 civilians are to be evacuated. Military experts see Sumy as one of the targets of Moscow’s expected summer offensive.
Heightened security measures and operations of security forces are to be expected. Ongoing armed clashes are to be expected. Travellers are advised to exercise high caution, to strictly avoid operations of security forces, and to follow instructions from security forces.
