Sumy region governor says Russian forces have captured four villages

The governor of Ukraine’s Sumy region on the Russian border said on Monday that Russian forces had captured four villages as part of an attempt to create a “buffer zone” on Ukrainian territory.

Oleh Hryhorov, writing on Facebook, listed four villages in the region that he said were now held by Russian forces. He said their residents had long been evacuated.

“The enemy is continuing attempts to advance with the aim of setting up a so-called ‘buffer zone,’” he wrote.

Russia’s Defense Ministry earlier on Monday listed two villages, other than those announced by Hryhorov, that it said had come under Russian control.