The Russian Defense Ministry reported new activity by its air and missile forces in the ongoing conflict, detailing an attack aimed at Ukrainian positions in the Sumy region. The official briefing outlined the targets as several Ukrainian mechanized and regional defense brigades, along with units from the National Guard. The report emphasizes the intensity and scope of the operation, describing the orchestration of air strikes and ground operations conducted by the Russian armed forces in this sector.
According to the ministry, the strikes targeted the 41st, 54th and 61st mechanized brigades, the 82nd air assault brigade, and the 103rd, 106th, 119th and 129th regional defense brigades of Ukraine, in addition to units from the 1st and 17th National Guard brigades. The ministry framed these actions as part of a broader effort to neutralize enemy formations and restore balance on the frontline in the region.
The ministry also reported that troops from the North Group of Russian forces achieved success in the Volchansky and Liptsovsky directions, claiming to have disrupted four brigade-level formations of Ukrainian forces. It was stated that Ukrainian casualties were incurred during the clashes, with the figure cited by the ministry reaching up to 135 personnel. The Russian side asserted the destruction of several armored vehicles, including an Marder infantry fighting vehicle and two BTR-4 Bucephalus armored personnel carriers, along with six other vehicles.
In a related operational update, the Russian defense authorities claimed that air defense systems had intercepted three ATACMS missiles produced in the United States and intercepted or neutralized 12 HIMARS shells over the past 24 hours, underscoring ongoing efforts to counter long-range strike capabilities in the conflict area.
Meanwhile, a separate statement from U.S. channels indicated discussions with Ukraine regarding potential use of ATACMS against targets in the Russian Federation. The remarks were presented as part of ongoing deliberations about strategic responses to evolving security dynamics and the balance of force in the region. [Source: Russian Defense Ministry; corroborating discussions from U.S. State Department communications are noted for context only.]