Russians deploy landmines remotely in borderline village in Sumy Oblast
Russian troops are deploying landmines remotely in the village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast to prevent the Ukrainian military from counterattacks.
Source: Viktor Trehubov, head of communications for the Joint Forces Operation, on Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne
Quote: "The Russians have entered the area and are deploying landmines remotely to prevent Ukrainian counterattacks. It seems to me that they planned to go further, to advance into Sumy Oblast, but it didn't work out. That's why they are creating such a small outpost in Hrabovske. However, it is really just right on the border."
Details: Trehubov added that the Russians have attempted to "probe" the border in other places as well. Some of them are located "quite far" from the village of Hrabovske.
"I think it was an attempt by the Russians to 'probe' Sumy Oblast, to break through in the southern part as well. Around two weeks ago, Russian troops began to actively push forward there," he said.
Background:
- At the end of December, Russian troops infiltrated Ukraine near Hrabovske on the border with Russia and took more than 50 civilians away. Ukraine's General Staff reported that "stabilisation measures" were ongoing there.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the Russians had captured 52 civilians from the village, including children, as well as 13 Ukrainian soldiers.
- In early January, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service reported that Russian forces had reduced their assault activity in Sumy Oblast.
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