Ukrainian Forces Halt Russian Advances in Sumy Region

Kyiv, Jun 27 (AP) Ukrainian forces have successfully halted Russia's recent advances into the northern Sumy region, stabilizing the front line near the border with Russia, according to Ukraine's top military commander on Thursday.

Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces, reported that the successes in Sumy have prevented Russia from deploying approximately 50,000 troops, including elite airborne and marine brigades, to other areas of the front line. This claim, however, remains unverified, and Russian officials have not yet commented.

Russian forces continue to make incremental advances along the roughly 1,000-kilometre front line, though these gains have come at a high cost, in terms of casualties and damaged armor.

Ukraine's heavily outnumbered army has been relying significantly on drones to counter Russian advancements. Attempts by US-led international efforts to halt the more than three-year-long war have not succeeded. Despite the ongoing conflict, both sides have continued prisoner of war exchanges, stemming from recent talks in Istanbul.

Both the Russian Defence Ministry and Ukrainian authorities confirmed a recent swap on Thursday. Ukraine's coordination headquarters for POWs noted that the exchange included injured soldiers and individuals with health issues, with ages ranging from 24 to 62. Further exchanges are anticipated soon.

Sumy, a city and capital of the Ukrainian region bearing the same name, had a prewar population of around 250,000 and lies about 20 kilometers from the front line. Russia's advance into the region earlier compelled Ukraine to enhance its defenses there. A special defense group has been established to boost security in Sumy and surrounding areas, focusing on fortifications and construction of defensive barriers, Syrskyi said.

In March, Ukrainian forces withdrew from much of Russia's neighboring Kursk region, which they had partly controlled following a surprise cross-border attack in August. This retreat enabled Russia to launch a counteroffensive, advancing between 2-12 kilometers into Ukrainian territory, according to varying estimates.

Ukrainian officials report fierce fighting in the eastern Donetsk region. The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Thursday that its forces have captured two villages, Novoserhiivka and Shevchenko, in Donetsk. Capturing Shevchenko is considered a significant step in Russia's current offensive, aimed at breaking into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, an industrial hub bordering Donetsk.

Both sides continue to execute long-range strikes. The Russian Ministry reported the overnight downing of 50 Ukrainian drones across nine regions, including three over Moscow. Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force stated that Russia deployed 41 Shahed and decoy drones across the country overnight, wounding five people, and that 24 drones were intercepted or jammed. (AP) PY

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