Ukraine's top general says Ukraine stopped Russian advances in northern Sumy region

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Ukrainian sniper takes a position near Bakhmut, Ukraine, Sept. 7, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer

KYIV  -  Ukraine's forces stopped Russian advances in the border area of the northern region of Sumy this week, the country's top general said in a statement on Thursday. 

"The advance of Russian troops in the border areas of Sumy region has been halted, and the line of combat has stabilised," Oleksandr Syrskyi said in the statement about his visit to the front.

Russia in April said it had ejected Ukrainian forces from the western Russian region of Kursk, and President Vladimir Putin has ordered his forces to follow up by carving out a "buffer zone" in the adjoining Sumy region.

After Russian advances there in early June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his troops were repelling the attacks and had recaptured the village of Andriivka.

Syrskyi said additional fortifications and defensive measures, including creating anti-drone corridors, should be done more promptly in the area. 

"The primary tasks are to strengthen fortifications and build up the system of engineering and fortification barriers," he said. 

 (Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Alison Williams // REUTERS)