**Ukraine’s President Says Forces Pushing Back Russian Troops**
In a major development, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that Ukrainian forces are gradually pushing back Russian troops from the Sumy region. This comes after months of Russian military operations in the area.
The Sumy region has been under heavy Russian air attacks for many months, and both Russian and Ukrainian reports indicate that Moscow’s troops have seized several villages in the region. However, Zelenskiy said in a video address on Thursday night that Ukrainian forces are making progress against the Russian occupiers.
“Our units in Sumy region are gradually pushing back the occupiers,” Zelenskiy said. “I thank you! Thanks to every soldier, sergeant and officer for this result.” However, he provided no further details or proof of the Ukrainian advances.
**A Shift in the Situation?**
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak was cautiously optimistic about the situation on the ground. He said that there had been a concentration of Russian men and equipment in Sumy region due to months of military operations across the border in Kursk region. However, he advised caution when establishing details of the situation.
“I think (Ukraine’s) military has the situation under control and I think we shall see a different picture in the coming days,” Podolyak told Ukrainian TV Channel 24.
**Independent Reports Confirm Russian Advances**
The popular Ukrainian military blog DeepState reported that Russian forces had made gains in recent days around villages inside the border. Other Ukrainian bloggers said that Russian forces had advanced to within 20 km (12 miles) of the city of Sumy and were likely to move southward on villages to secure high ground outside the city.
Russian media also reported similar advances through the region, with one military site saying that Russian forces had made “significant progress” and were now positioned south of a major highway.
**What This Means**
The pushback by Ukrainian forces in the Sumy region is seen as a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. While the details are still unclear, it appears that Ukrainian troops are making progress against Russian occupiers. However, the situation on the ground remains fluid and caution should be exercised when establishing details.
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