Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that Russian attempts to advance in the Sumy oblast have been fully repelled by Ukrainian forces.

Russian forces have been trying to break through Ukraine’s Sumy Oblast for months, but made little progress. 

Sumy Oblast is in northeastern Ukraine, bordering Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions. The city of Sumy lies about 15 miles from the Russian border, making the area a frequent target for Russian drones, missiles, and guided bombs.

Zelenskyy added that while fighting continues along the border, Russian units have lost their offensive capability due to heavy losses.

Last month, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russian forces had been defeated in Sumy Oblast and lost several settlements. He added that Russia is now redeploying troops to other fronts, including Zaporizhzhia.

Although Russian forces initially captured several villages this year, they were ultimately halted by Ukrainian defenses.