Despite not having sufficient forces to achieve its strategic goals, Russia can still use its available troops to sow panic and stretch the Ukrainian Armed Forces in areas such as Sumy region, preventing them from redeploying to more important fronts.
A representative of the General Staff said that russia is building up a military grouping in the border areas of Sumy region, taking measures to increase its forces. For now, the situation remains stable and under control.
The Russians have not yet created any groups or amassed enough forces to conduct offensive actions in Sumy region, but the situation is being monitored for appropriate military and civilian response in case of redeployment and concentration of forces in the region.
President Zelenskyy held a meeting with senior military and intelligence officials to discuss the situation on the battlefield, enemy plans to disrupt the Peace Summit, and the provision of necessary weapons and assistance to the army.
Since the end of 2023, Sumy region has remained the most active area where enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been trying to infiltrate Ukraine.
Last week, there was a slight increase in passenger traffic leaving Ukraine due to the end of the Easter holidays, but now the passenger traffic has stabilized at around 80-85 thousand people per day.
Demchenko said who can cross the border after the mobilization law comes into force, adding that border guards check paper military registration documents, not electronic ones.
Russians continue shelling civilian areas of Chernihiv region: 19 explosions were recorded from alleged shelling with 120-mm mortars, no casualties.
Border guards do not take into account the “Reserve+” app when crossing the border, but only check military IDs with appropriate marks for men who are liable for military service, said a spokesman for the State Border Guard Service.
Border guards do not currently detect sufficient enemy forces to achieve strategic goals in Sumy region, but do not rule out attempts to sow panic and distract the Defense Forces.
A resident of Lviv region organized a channel for illegal border crossing in Zakarpattia, was caught with $18,000, and the driver fled, leaving the passengers behind and pushing the car into a ditch.
the Russian armed forces launched 23 artillery strikes on the border areas of Chernihiv region from barrel artillery and mortars.
Russian troops attacked Chernihiv region with cannon artillery and mortars, resulting in 35 explosions near civilian settlements.
A woman with a disability organized an illegal border crossing for her fictitious husband for $5,000 in the Lviv region.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops shelled the border of Chernihiv region with mortars, recording 51 explosions in four villages.
Another drowned man was found 10 meters from the Romanian shore in the Tisza River, the eighth such case since the beginning of May.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine destroyed the piloting point of a Russian UAV in the Vovchansk sector using an FPV drone, having calculated its location.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has named the categories of Ukrainian citizens who will be checked for military registration documents when crossing the border starting today, May 18.
The State Border Guard Service denies media reports of an increase in the number of men crossing the border.
According to the Western Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service, there is a significant accumulation of cars leaving Ukraine, with the longest queues - up to 700 cars - at the border with Poland.
Romanian border guards found the body of an unidentified drowned man in the Tisza River, the 30th tragic case of a person trying to cross the border.
Starting May 18, border guards will check military registration documents of men aged 18 to 60 when crossing the border, with certain categories being required and others being optional.
Russian troops attacked the border of Chernihiv region with various types of weapons, 146 explosions were recorded. No information on deaths and injuries among the local population as a result of the shelling was recorded.
Starting May 18, men aged 18 to 60 must have a military ID card when crossing the border of Ukraine due to martial law and mobilization, according to amendments to the laws on mobilization training and martial law.
The Ukrainian military is engaged in intense fighting and counterattacks around Vovchansk, repelling enemy attacks and rocket attacks in the Kharkiv region.
Border guards destroyed Russian combat vehicles and tanks that were trying to break through the Ukrainian defense on the outskirts of Vovchansk.
Border guards of the "Revenge" brigade destroyed the Russian radar station "Zoo-1" in Donetsk region.
Border guards from the "Revenge" brigade repelled a Russian offensive in the Bakhmut sector, destroying an enemy convoy with tanks, armored vehicles and infantry.
the russian offensive in the Bakhmut sector was stopped by Ukrainian border guards, who destroyed Russian tanks, armored vehicles and infantry during an attempt to storm their positions.
President Zelenskyy held a conference call to discuss the situation in Kharkiv region, the deployment of additional forces and intelligence on enemy movements, and the postponement of international events in response to the situation.