Ukrainian military deny media reports of Russian presence in Riasne in Sumy Oblast

Fighting is ongoing in the village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast as of the afternoon of 21 December, but Russian forces are not present in the neighbouring village of Riasne.

Source: Ukraine's Joint Forces Task Force on Facebook

Details: Media outlets, particularly locally-based Kordon.Media, reported on the evening of 20 December that Russian infantry was present in Riasne.

On 21 December, the Joint Forces Task Force denied reports that Russian forces had entered the settlement.

Quote: "Clarification regarding the attempted breakthrough by the occupying forces in Sumy Oblast.

Fighting is currently ongoing in the settlement of Hrabovske. Ukrainian defenders are making efforts to push the occupiers back onto Russian territory.

Despite certain reports in the media, there are currently no Russians in the neighbouring village of Riasne."

Background:

• Earlier, Kordon.Media reported that on the night of 19-20 December, Russian forces entered the border village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast.
• The outlet also wrote that "as of the evening of 20 December, enemy infantry is present in Riasne".
• The following day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that Russian forces had crossed the state border near Hrabovske and forcibly took over 50 civilians to Russia. The military reported that stabilisation measures are currently underway there.

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