Russian defense ministry claims control of two towns in Sumy region, targets Ukrainian military industry

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its forces have taken control of the towns of Velykyi Prykil and Sadky in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine, claiming to have inflicted losses of 1,425 Ukrainian personnel within 24 hours, and noting that Russian troops continue to advance on all fronts.

According to Russia's Sputnik news agency, the ministry issued a statement saying: "As a result of intensive military operations, units of the Russian 'Center' group have captured the towns of Velykyi Prykil and Sadky in the Sumy region."

The statement confirmed that "the Russian armed forces continued, throughout the night, to carry out mass airstrikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities supporting the Ukrainian armed forces."

The ministry's statement added that units of the 'Center' group improved their tactical positions and inflicted personnel and equipment losses on three Ukrainian mechanized brigades, the Jaeger brigade, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces, a marine infantry brigade, and three National Guard brigades.

The statement emphasized that Ukrainian armed formations lost up to 375 soldiers, a Canadian-made 'Senator' armored combat vehicle, seven vehicles, and three field artillery pieces.

According to the Russian defense ministry, in the area controlled by the Russian 'Dnieper' group, up to 30 Ukrainian soldiers were neutralized, and 16 vehicles, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, and three electronic warfare stations were destroyed.

The statement explained that "on orders received, the Russian armed forces have begun preparations for large-scale strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities in response to the continued attacks by the Kyiv regime on Russia's civilian infrastructure and fuel and energy sector."