Russian forces continue shelling Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv and Sumy regions, but they are focusing most of their efforts on the areas of the Sumy region bordering Russia’s Kursk region.
Colonel Vadym Mysnyk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Siversk Operational and Tactical Group of Forces, announced this on Ukrainian television, Ukrinform reports.
“Enemy shelling continues along the entire border strip. Their goal is to keep our troops under constant pressure and restrain our forces. However, the highest concentration of enemy personnel and attacks is in the Sumy region — specifically in areas where our Defense Forces are conducting operations in the Kursk region. The enemy seeks to achieve results there, but we are not allowing it. Our main objective is to inflict maximum losses on their personnel and equipment, which we are successfully doing in the border areas,” Mysnyk said.
He added that Ukrainian forces destroy enemy equipment remotely as soon as it approaches the border, forcing the Russians to move in small infantry groups or sabotage and reconnaissance units (DRGs).
Mysnyk said that Ukraine’s northern defense system takes into account the terrain’s specific features.
“The defense system along the northern border is built with consideration of the local landscape — there are many small bodies of water, rivers, and dense forests, all of which we factor into our defensive operations,” he said.
Despite the ongoing engagements, Mysnyk noted no signs of a large-scale Russian assault force assembling in the area.
“We do not see any indications of the enemy forming a major offensive grouping. The heaviest enemy presence is concentrated in the areas where our Defense Forces are conducting operations on adjacent territories,” he said.
When asked about enemy drone and aviation activity, Mysnyk stated that both Russian and Ukrainian drone usage is increasing, but helicopter attacks on Ukrainian territory remain sporadic and rare.
Earlier, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko reported that Russian forces were attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses near the villages of Novenke and Zhuravka in the Sumy region.
Photo: 28th Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the First Winter Campaign
Source: Ukraine's military reports on situation at Sumy border with Russia's Kursk region
