Reports suggest that Russian forces have taken control of four border villages in Ukraine's Sumy region. This area is next to Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces reportedly captured land last year. This action comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said he wanted to create a buffer zone along the border to stop more Ukrainian attacks. Even though there has been a small decrease in recent Russian bombing, Moscow's invasion does not seem to be stopping, and peace talks have not led to any big successes. 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 document Putin promised, which would outline a possible peace agreement. During widespread bombing, there was a noticeable drop in drone attacks from Russia between Monday and Tuesday. At the same time, Russian forces are trying to move further into Sumy, while Ukrainian forces are working hard to keep their current positions.