Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from several positions in the north-eastern Sumy region, Kyiv confirmed on Sunday, 21 December, in a move linked to intense fighting near the Russia-Ukraine border.
Accounts from Kyiv and Moscow on the situation on the battlefield remain varied with each side claiming success.
Ukraine’s military said its troops pulled back under pressure around the Hrabovske area, where Russian forces in superior numbers crossed the border and forced a tactical adjustment.
Fighting continues in the village, with Ukrainian commanders rejecting claims that Russian units have taken neighbouring Ryasne.
Ukrainian officials also claimed that more than 50 civilians were forcibly taken into Russian territory after the incursion, mostly older residents who had declined evacuation.
The announcement came as the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed advances “along the entire frontline” and said its forces had seized multiple strategically advantageous positions.
Moscow’s military further reported strikes on Ukrainian military‑industrial enterprises and on energy, transport and storage infrastructure supporting Kyiv’s forces.
However, independent verification of these broader claims is limited.
The Sumy region has been a contested front since Russian forces pushed into Ukrainian territory earlier in 2025, capturing several villages and prompting repeated defensive operations by Kyiv.
In mid‑September, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow’s larger offensive in Sumy had been “completely thwarted” and that the Russian grouping in the area had lost offensive capability after heavy losses, although fighting continued along the border.
The conflict in Sumy has also seen significant civilian suffering. In April, Russian missile strikes on Sumy city killed dozens of civilians and wounded many more, drawing international condemnation.
Analysts say the front in Sumy remains fluid, with both sides claiming local successes amid broader strategic pressures on Ukraine’s defences as Russia continues its multi‑axis offensive.
Diplomatic efforts for ceasefire talks proceed in parallel, but with limited signs of an immediate breakthrough.
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At least 12 people were killed and seven wounded after a Russian drone struck a bus carrying miners in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, government officials said on Sunday (1 February).
The Kremlin said on Friday (30 January) that Russian President had received a personal request from his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump. The request was to halt strikes on Kyiv until 1 February to create a favourable environment for peace negotiations.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
U.S. president Donald Trump said Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States and expressed hope that negotiations could lead to an outcome acceptable to Washington.
Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to organise a meeting in Ankara between White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and top Iranian officials, according to reports in the U.S. and Turkish media.
German authorities have arrested five people suspected of running a criminal network to circumvent European Union sanctions by exporting goods to at least 24 sanctioned Russian defence companies, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least 12 people were killed and seven wounded after a Russian drone struck a bus carrying miners in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, government officials said on Sunday (1 February).
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
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