Russian forces are attempting to create an active fighting zone in Ukraine's northeastern region of Sumy, across the border from Russia's Kursk region, Ukraine's border guard spokesman said on Monday.

Sumy is located across the border from Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops launched an offensive in August. Russian forces occupied parts of Sumy during the early part of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began more than three years ago.

This follows earlier reports about Russian attempts to encircle Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast - by creating a foothold in Sumy Oblast. Read also: Ukrainian forces advance near Toretsk and Pokrovsk as Russia attacks on six fronts - ISW “We observe that the enemy is attempting to create an active combat zone within Ukraine’s territory and

"These are small assault units, composed of a few people. They try to penetrate our territory, accumulate forces and advance further into Ukraine, probably to cut off logistical routes," State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on national television.

Russia has launched a cross-border offensive in Ukraine's Sumy region, Ukraine's border guard said on Monday, and in recent days has stopped up its pressure on Ukrainian troops holding parts of its

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Russia on Sunday announced it had captured territory in Ukraine's Sumy region for the first time since 2022 in a cross-border offensive, as Kyiv struggles to hold onto territory in Russia's neighbouring Kursk region.

Russia also claimed the recapture of 4 new villages in its Kursk border region as its troops pushed on against Ukrainian soldiers who had seized territory there