Russian forces continue to hold the village of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast, but Ukrainian defenders have successfully prevented them from advancing further, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Russian attempts to widen the zone of combat in northern Ukraine have failed under pressure from Ukrainian strikes and infantry engagements.
Ukrainian forces block Russian advance beyond Hrabovske
State Border Guard Service (DPSU) spokesperson Andrii Demchenko on Ukrainian TV that the situation near Hrabovske remains under control, according to RBK-Ukraine. He said Ukraine’s defenders—including border guards and Armed Forces units—are delivering targeted strikes against Russian troops to reduce their numbers and stop them from pushing deeper into Ukrainian territory.
Demchenko noted that Ukrainian defenders are actively engaging the enemy with both drone operators and infantry units involved in shootouts with Russian troops.
“Taking about Sumy Oblast, including in the direction of the village of Varachyne, the enemy earlier attempted similar assaults on positions of the State Border Guard Service,” Demchenko said. “They also carried out such actions recently toward the village of Myropillia.”
Thanks to Ukrainian defensive actions, Russian troops were unable to gain ground in other sectors and only maintain isolated positions, according to Demchenko. The DPSU emphasized that the broader situation in the oblast remains controlled by Ukrainian forces.
Russian troops stuck in Hrabovske weeks after incursion
According to earlier reports, Russian forces had been fortifying their position in Hrabovske since the start of January, remotely laying mines around the village to deter Ukrainian counterattacks. According to Ukrainian military data, about 100 Russian contract soldiers from a motorized rifle brigade are currently stationed in the village.
On 18 December, Russian troops crossed the border near Hrabovske and abducted around 50 local residents who had refused to evacuate. The civilians were taken into Russian territory, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
