Ukraine battles a Russian advance in Sumy region, refutes reports of wider gains, and alleges 50 civilians were forcibly moved to Russia.
KYIV: The Ukrainian army is fighting to repel an attempted Russian breakthrough in the Sumy border region.
This marks a renewed Russian advance in an area largely spared intense ground combat since Ukraine’s 2022 counter-offensive.
“Fighting is currently ongoing in the village of Grabovske,” Ukraine’s joint task force stated.
It added that troops were “making efforts to drive the occupiers back into Russian territory.”
The force refuted media reports claiming Russian troops had entered the neighbouring village of Ryasne.
Earlier, Ukraine’s rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, alleged Russian troops forcibly moved about 50 people from Grabovske to Russia.
He said the civilians were detained on Thursday, held in poor conditions, and then taken to Russia on Saturday.
AFP cannot independently verify the claims, and Russia has not officially commented.
On Saturday, the Russian army announced it had captured the village of Vysoke, located a few miles from Grabovske.
The Sumy military administration said it evacuated residents from border communities using armoured vehicles.
The breakthrough attempt occurs as Russia makes slow, steady gains in eastern Ukraine amid renewed peace talks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched roughly 1,300 attack drones and nearly 1,200 guided bombs against Ukraine this week. – AFP
