KYIV — A Russian drone and missile strike killed three civilians and injured five others Friday in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, according to regional governor Oleh Hryhory.
The attack occurred amid Russia’s ongoing offensive along the 1,000-kilometer front stretching across eastern Ukraine.
Russian forces have been attempting for months to gain ground in Sumy, which borders Russia’s Kursk region.
While several small villages near the border have been seized, larger cities like Sumy continue to face frequent bombardment.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow’s efforts to advance in the region have failed, citing heavy Russian losses.
“The Russian grouping in the Sumy direction has lost its offensive capabilities,” he stated, adding that Ukrainian forces have successfully repelled attacks in other key areas including Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.