Russia tries to create buffer zone in Ukraine's Kharkiv and Sumy regions
Illustrative photo: Russia is trying to create a buffer zone in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions (GettyImages)
The Russians are increasing pressure on Ukrainian positions in the Slobozhanske direction and are trying to create a buffer zone in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, according to Vadym Karpiak, spokesperson for the 8th Air Assault Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The key task of Ukrainian units is to prevent the enemy from carrying out these plans.
“Our task now is not to allow them to create this buffer zone,” Karpiak emphasized.
Attacks near Myropillia
The spokesperson said that earlier, small infantry groups of the Russian army tried to attack Ukrainian positions in the direction of Myropillia in the Sumy region. However, the Russians suffered losses and were forced to retreat.
Attempts to break through via a gas pipeline
According to Karpiak, Russian troops are trying to use a gas pipeline to covertly approach the line of contact. However, these attempts are also failing.
Over the past week, in just half an hour, the enemy lost 18 servicemen who were trying to carry out a landing through the pipeline. The exit point, according to the spokesperson, is under full control of Ukrainian defenders.
Situation in the Sumy region
On December 18, Russian troops crossed the state border in the area of the village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region and took about 50 residents to Russia who had previously refused evacuation deeper into Ukraine.
According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russians managed to gain a foothold in Hrabovske. There are currently about a hundred Russian soldiers there, including contract servicemen of a motorized rifle brigade. Attempts to advance further into the region and probe other sections of the border proved unsuccessful for the enemy, after which it focused on fortifying positions in the captured settlement.
As Viktor Trehubov, Head of the Communications Department of the Joint Forces Grouping, reported, Russian units continue to fortify and remotely mine the approaches to Hrabovske, trying to prevent counterattacks from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Communications Center of the Kursk troop grouping emphasized that the village of Andriivka in the Sumy region remains under full control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, and reports of its alleged capture are false.
