Reports suggest that Russian forces have taken control of four villages in Ukraine's Sumy region, which is next to Russia's Kursk region. This is the same area where Ukrainian forces gained territory last year. This action comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated his intention to create a buffer zone along the border to stop further Ukrainian attacks. Although Russian bombing has recently decreased a little, Moscow's invasion shows no signs of ending, and peace talks have not led to any major breakthroughs. The only clear result from recent direct discussions has been a large exchange of prisoners. The US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has not yet received the promised document from Putin that would outline a possible peace agreement. During heavy bombardments, a noticeable drop in drone attacks from Russia was observed between Monday and Tuesday. Meanwhile, Russian forces are trying to move further into Sumy, while Ukrainian forces are working hard to maintain their current positions.