Russian forces control Hrabovske, but Ukraine's Defense Forces hold line and prevent further advance - State Border Guard Service
Photo: border guard officer of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (Facebook/DPSU)
Russian forces continue to control the settlement of Hrabovske, but they have failed to expand the combat zone, according to comments by Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, during the national telethon.
Demchenko said that Ukrainian defenders, servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service, are actively striking Russian forces to reduce their manpower and prevent further advance.
Fighting in the Sumy region involves both drone operators and infantry units, which are engaging Russian troops in small-arms clashes.
"If we speak about the Sumy region, including the direction of the settlement of Varachyne, Russia previously tried to assault positions of Border Guard units in the same manner. Similar actions were also carried out recently toward Myropillia," Demchenko noted.
According to him, thanks to the actions of Ukrainian forces, Russian troops have failed to expand their control in other directions and currently hold only isolated positions.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine emphasizes that the situation in the Sumy region remains under control, and Ukrainian defenders continue to conduct precision strikes to contain Russian advances.
Border breach in Sumy region
In early January Russian forces continued to fortify positions in Hrabovske, including remote mining of approaches to the village to prevent counterattacks by Ukrainian forces.
Viktor Trehubov, Head of Communications of the Joint Forces grouping, said Russian troops attempted to probe other sections of the border in the Sumy region, some far from Hrabovske, but were unsuccessful.
On December 18, Russian forces crossed the Ukrainian border near Hrabovske in the Sumy region and abducted local residents, taking them to Russian territory. The incident involved around 50 civilians who had previously refused evacuation deeper into Ukraine.
According to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops managed to entrench themselves in Hrabovske. The enemy group there remains unchanged, about 100 personnel, mainly contract soldiers from a Russian motorized rifle brigade.
