Russian army may try to expand its foothold in Sumy or Kharkiv regions - Ukraine's SBGS

Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS), shared the information on Espreso TV.

"Fortunately, there are currently no active enemy actions in the Sumy region attempting to breach Ukrainian territory. We do not observe that the enemy has sufficient forces deployed on the other side of the border to make such attempts. Moreover, the Russian army has not achieved its intended objectives in the Kharkiv region, especially in the directions of Lyptsi and Vovchansk. That is why they are now focusing their main efforts there. However, we cannot exclude that at any moment, even despite the insufficient number of forces, the Russian army will try to expand some bridgeheads with active combat zones, including within the Sumy region or other areas in the Kharkiv region. We have to be prepared for all kinds of situations, monitor the enemy's actions to counteract them," he said.

Recently, Russian subversive reconnaissance groups have been active in the Kharkiv direction, particularly in Sotnytskyi Kozachok, the spokesman said.

"Several enemy subversive reconnaissance groups tried to enter the area, but the saboteurs were driven out by Ukrainian defenders. Of course, the border guards who are stationed in this area also contributed to this. We also used all the necessary more powerful means to strike at the enemy, including on the approaches to our border. We are deploying anti-sabotage reserves to prevent the enemy from advancing deep into the territory of our state, to gain a foothold somewhere while waiting for further actions," he said.

The activity of Russian subversive reconnaissance groups in the Sumy region, especially now, has somewhat decreased, says Demchenko.

"Of course, the enemy is trying to carry out sabotage actions, but their activity is much less. Most likely, the enemy can use these groups in the areas it considers more appropriate. Speaking about the Sumy region, all units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces are doing everything necessary to prevent the subversive groups from attempting to enter the territory of Ukraine," he added.

• Over the course of July 1, 189 combat clashes took place at the frontline. Ukrainian defenders repelled most of the attacks in the Pokrovsk direction.