Occupation of Kherson and Sumy Regions
In the occupied Kherson region, Russian forces are compelling schoolchildren to produce greeting cards for their military personnel. This event took place at the Krasnoperekopskyi Village House of Culture and the Zelenorubanivska Library, where children crafted cards shaped like wartime 'triangle letters,' decorated with the Russian tricolor flag and Soviet stars. Such acts are part of a broader pattern of using civilian populations for propaganda purposes in occupied territories.
Simultaneously, on February 8, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed its forces had seized the settlement of Sydorivka, located northwest of the city of Sumy. A Russian military blogger stated this capture was part of efforts to establish a buffer zone in the northern part of Sumy Oblast. According to available information, the seizure of Sydorivka is attributed to units of the 80th Arctic Motor Rifle Brigade.
However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has not identified visual evidence confirming the Russian Defense Ministry's claim. In turn, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence published an intercepted radio transmission which it says records the confirmation of a war crime by the occupying army. These events underscore the complex situation in the region and heightened activity by Russian forces.
Situation in the Region
The situation in Kherson and Sumy regions reflects increasing pressure from Russian troops on Ukrainian territories, which may indicate a further escalation of the conflict. The use of children for propaganda activities also points to the occupiers' attempts to influence public consciousness and legitimize their presence in the region. Meanwhile, the lack of confirmation regarding the capture of Sydorivka may indicate the ongoing information war between the conflicting parties. The northern Sumy front has seen increased fighting in recent months, drawing Ukrainian forces away from other critical areas of the frontline.